Dussehra Puja Samagri 2026: Quick Answer
For Dussehra 2026 (Tuesday, 20 October), keep samagri ready in five groups: (1) basic puja items — roli, haldi, akshat, kalava, lamp, incense, flowers; (2) Shami puja — Shami leaves or plant, water, kalava; (3) Aparajita puja — Aparajita flowers, sandalwood paste, a clean place to draw an eight-petal lotus; (4) Shastra puja — red cloth, Gangajal, weapons or tools; and (5) Ram Darbar puja and bhog — a picture of Ram Darbar, jalebi, paan, sweets and fruit. Since Navami puja and Navratri visarjan also fall on the morning of 20 October this year, keep those items ready too.
1. Basic Puja Items
- •Roli, kumkum, haldi, chandan
- •Akshat (unbroken rice)
- •Kalava (mauli)
- •Ghee lamp, cotton wicks, matchbox
- •Incense sticks, dhoop, camphor
- •Flowers and garlands (marigold, rose, Aparajita)
- •Betel leaves and whole supari
- •Gangajal and a lota of water
- •Puja thali, bell
- •Coconut
2. Shami Puja Samagri
- •Shami tree nearby or a potted Shami plant
- •Water (with a little Gangajal) for offering
- •Roli, akshat, kalava, flowers
- •A small ghee lamp
- •A clean cloth or envelope to bring home Shami leaves
3. Aparajita Puja Samagri
- •Aparajita (blue butterfly pea) flowers or vine
- •Sandalwood paste or roli to draw an eight-petal lotus
- •Akshat, flowers, naivedya
- •Lamp and incense
4. Shastra Puja Samagri
- •Red or yellow cloth and a chowki
- •Gangajal and a clean wiping cloth
- •Weapons/tools/vehicle keys/books/instruments to be worshipped
- •Roli-haldi for tilak and swastika
- •Kalava to tie
- •Marigold flowers, Shami leaves
- •Sweets for prasad
See the Shastra Puja vidhi.
5. Ram Darbar Puja and Bhog
- •Picture of Ram Darbar (Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman)
- •Tulsi leaves (for Lord Rama)
- •Jalebi, laddoo, gur-chana
- •Paan (a betel leaf preparation, offered and eaten after Ravan Dahan in many families)
- •Seasonal fruits
- •Ramcharitmanas or Sundarkand book for path
6. Navami and Navratri Visarjan (Morning of 20 October)
- •Havan samagri, mango wood, ghee, dry coconut
- •Kanya pujan items (if on Navami)
- •A bowl for collecting kalash water and mango leaves for sprinkling
- •A container for jau sprouts (jawara)
Navami ends at 12:50 PM on 20 October; complete these before Dussehra rituals. See Maha Navami 2026.
Shopping Timeline
| When | What |
|---|---|
| By 18 October | Roli, kalava, lamps, incense, red cloth, havan samagri, Ram Darbar picture |
| 19 October | Fruits, dry fruits; clean weapons and tools |
| 20 October morning | Fresh flowers, Aparajita, Shami leaves, jalebi, paan |
Eco-Friendly Tips
- •Choose small, eco-friendly effigies made of paper and bamboo without firecrackers for community or home use.
- •Don't break Shami branches — take only a few leaves respectfully.
- •Compost puja flowers instead of throwing them in drains.
Vehicle Puja and New Ventures
If you're buying a new vehicle or worshipping your existing one on Dussehra, keep roli or sindoor for a swastika, kalava and a marigold garland, a coconut to break, and sweets. For a new business, keep a picture of Ganesha, a new account book or register, a pen and a red cloth. See the Dussehra 2026 Vijay Muhurat.
Regional Items
- •Maharashtra: Apta leaves to exchange as "gold", marigold torans.
- •Rajasthan and Gujarat: Jalebi-fafda; traditional puja items for weapons in Rajput families.
- •Bengal: Sindoor, paan and sweets for Bijoya Dashami (21 October).
- •Karnataka: Banana leaves, kumkum and flowers for Ayudha Puja.
After Dussehra
Compost the flowers, keep the Shami leaves in your locker until next Dussehra, store the worshipped tools safely, and share leftover sweets and fruit with those in need.
Summary
Prepare your Dussehra 2026 samagri in groups — basic puja items, Shami, Aparajita, Shastra puja, Ram Darbar puja and bhog — and keep Navami and visarjan items ready for the morning of 20 October. Buy dry items by 18 October and fresh flowers on Dussehra morning.
