Dashavatara Vrat Timings

2026 Dashavatara Vrat

According to the Hindu Panchang, the Dashavatara Vrat is observed on the Shukla Paksha Dashami Tithi of the Bhadrapada month. This sacred fast is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is among the most revered fasts in Hindu tradition. On this day, devotees worship all ten incarnations, i.e., Dashavatara of Lord Vishnu. Detailed descriptions of this Vrat are found in the Bhavishya Purana, Vrataraja and Vrat Parichaya. According to the Bhavishya Purana, this Vrat should be observed continuously for ten years and then concluded with a proper Udyapana.

According to the Hindu scriptures, Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami, i.e., Ganga Dussehra, Ashadha Shukla Dashami, i.e., Asha Dashami, Bhadrapada Shukla Dashami, i.e., Dashavatara Vrat and Ashwina Shukla Dashami, i.e., Vijaya Dashami are considered highly significant. These four auspicious Dashami Tithis are collectively known as Maha Dashami and each is regarded as supremely meritorious and sacred.

As described in the Vrataraja, one who observes this Vrat with devotion and discipline becomes free from worldly bondage and attains residence in the divine abode of Lord Vishnu. A woman who performs this Vrat remains ever blessed with wealth and prosperity and receives the love and affection of her children. After enjoying a long and prosperous life on Earth, she finally attains Vishnu Loka.

The devotee who worships Lord Vishnu's ten incarnations, Matsya, Kurma and others on this auspicious Dashami Tithi enjoys happiness in all ten directions, and at the end of life, ascends to the abode of Lord Murari. Lord Vishnu is known as Murari because He slew the demon Mura.

Dashavatara Vrat Puja Vidhi

First, take a bath in a river or a sacred water reservoir and perform Tarpana rituals for the Devagana and Pitragana. At home, prepare flour using three handfuls of grains and purify it with Ghee. With devotion, follow this fast for ten consecutive years, offering each year special food preparation, i.e., Naivedya made from this flour fried in Ghee.

According to the Vrataraja In the first year, offer Apupa, In the second year, Dhritapuraka, In the third year, Pupakasara, In the fourth year, Modaka, In the fifth year, Sohalika, In the sixth year, Khanda Veshtaka, In the seventh year, Kokarasa, In the eighth year, Arka Pushpa, In the ninth year, Karnaveshta, In the tenth year, Mandaka.

The Vrat Parichaya prescribes the following sequence of offerings over ten years - Apupa, Ghevar, Kasara, Modaka, Suhal, Sakarpare, Dovathe, Guna, Kokara and Pushpakarna.

The Bhavishya Purana mentions - Puri, Ghevar, Kasara, Modaka, Sohalaka, Khandaveshtaka, Kokaras, Apupa, Karnaveshta and Khandaka as the ten offerings for each respective year.

Half of the prepared Naivedya should be offered to the Lord, one-fourth donated to a Brahmin and the remaining one-fourth consumed by the devotee near a sacred water body. On every Dussehra during the ten-year period, one should, according to capacity, donate ten cows to ten Brahmins.

After bathing Lord Hari with pure water, worship His ten incarnations with offerings of incense, lamps, sandal paste and flowers. Then recite the following prayer -

Meaning - "O all-pervading Lord who has assumed the ten divine incarnations! O Narayana, Lord of all creation, I surrender myself unto You. O Vishnu, please be gracious to me. O Janardana, Who is pleased through devotion, dispel the illusion of Maya and grant me residence in Your divine abode. O Lord, I offer my entire being at Your sacred feet."

By observing this supremely meritorious Dashavatara Vrat with the above procedure, one becomes free from the cycle of birth and death and attains eternal residence in Vishnu Loka, the divine realm of Lord Vishnu.