Dussera(Vijayadasami)
October 11 @ 8:00 am - October 20 @ 5:00 pm
Dasara (Vijayadashami) in Vijayawada will be celebrated on October 20, 2026. The grand Sharannavarathri festivities will take place throughout the 10 days of Navratri, with the primary religious events hosted at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam (Kanaka Durga Temple) atop the Indrakeeladri hill.
Key Event Details
- Dates: The Sharannavarathri festival will begin in early October 2026 (exact dates are governed by the lunar calendar). The festival culminates on Vijayadashami (Dasara) on October 20, 2026.
- Primary Venue: Sri Kanaka Durga Temple, Indrakeeladri, Vijayawada.
- Citywide Events: The city also hosts the massive Vijayawada Utsav, featuring carnivals, massive cultural processions, and consumer exhibitions often held at locations like MG Road, Bhavani Island, and the Gollapudi-Jakkampudi exhibition grounds
Temple Schedule Highlights: Over the 10 days, the Goddess is adorned in different Alankarams (avatar forms) each day. The final day features the famous Teppotsavam (the ceremonial boat ride of the deities in the Krishna River).
The 9-Day Alankaram Schedule
Though the exact daily order is finalized closer to the festival, the Goddess typically appears in the following forms:
- Swarna Kavachalankrita Durga Devi (Golden Armour)
- Sri Bala Tripura Sundari Devi
- Sri Annapurna Devi
- Sri Gayatri Devi
- Sri Lalita Tripura Sundari Devi
- Sri Saraswati Devi (Typically on Moola Nakshatram, a highly auspicious day drawing the largest crowds)
- Sri Mahalakshmi Devi
- Sri Mahishasura Mardini Devi
- Sri Raja Rajeswari Devi (On the final day)
Key Highlights & Events
- Pattu Vastralu: On the auspicious day of Moola Nakshatram, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh presents traditional silk robes to the Goddess on behalf of the State Government. [1, 2]
- Teppotsavam: The festival concludes on Vijayadashami with a spectacular celestial boat ride (Teppotsavam) of the Goddess and Her consort Malleswara Swamy in the Krishna River. [1, 2]
- Vijayawada Utsav: In recent years, local tourism bodies (AP Tourism and Society of Vibrant Vijayawada) have expanded the celebrations with Vijayawada Utsav, featuring food courts, cultural concerts, art competitions, and exhibitions throughout the city.