Vijayadashami 2026: Muhurat timings for ghat visarjan on October 20

Today, Tuesday, October 20, 2026, is Dussehra, or Vijayadashami. The day is considered one of the three-and-a-half auspicious muhurats. Shardiya Navratri also ends today. After nine days of worship of the Goddess, households are preparing to remove the ghat and bid farewell to the Goddess's idol.

Many people wonder when the ghat should be removed and when the Goddess should be immersed, on Navami or on Dashami. Here is the full information.

According to the panchang, today is Vijayadashami. The Vijay muhurat today is from 2:09 pm to 2:56 pm. It is considered the best time for Vijayadashami puja. The Aparahna kaal today is from 1:23 pm to 3:42 pm.

It should be noted that the Vijay muhurat does not mean the muhurat for immersion. A separate time has to be checked for immersion, and it can vary according to the panchang of each place. Nobody should assume that one time applies everywhere.

If the ghat is to be immersed today, some auspicious times have been given. A good muhurat is from 6:19 am to 10:12 am. After that, the Abhijit muhurat is from 11:44 am to 12:31 pm. The ghat can also be immersed from 1:14 pm to 3:30 pm.

These times need not be the same everywhere. The panchang of your village or city may differ, so fix the muhurat only after consulting the local panchang.

Every household has its own custom on whether the ghat is removed on Navami or Dashami. In some homes, the ghat is immersed on Mahanavami, that is, yesterday, after worship of the Goddess, havan and aarti. In some homes, puja is performed on Dussehra, the ghat is removed, and the grain sown during Navratri, that is, barley, is immersed.

There is therefore no single rule. Follow the tradition that has been observed in your home for years. Ask the elders and do as they say. The family custom, or kulachar, is important.

Do not hurry while immersing the ghat or the idol of the Goddess. First perform puja and aarti to the Goddess and offer naivedya. Then, if there has been any lapse in the worship, ask the Goddess for forgiveness and pray.

Set aside the coconut kept on the ghat and the rest of the puja material according to your household custom. The water from the ghat can be poured into a plant such as tulsi. Immerse the grain sown during Navratri in soil and do not throw it in the garbage.

If there is a large idol at home, follow the rules laid down by the administration when immersing it in a river or pond. Immerse it only where an artificial pond is available. If possible, bring an eco-friendly idol and immerse it in the same manner.

Finally, do not assume that only the Vijay muhurat time is required for immersion. Ghat visarjan and immersion of the Goddess are two separate matters and, according to the household tradition, can take place at different times. Decide only after checking your city's panchang and your family's kulachar.