Tuljapur Dussehra 2026 — Simollanghan Day & the Sleep Days (2026)

Dussehra at Tuljapur is not on Dussehra. The calendar Vijayadashami is Tuesday 20 October 2026, but Tulja Bhavani's own Simollanghan palkhi goes out at dawn on Wednesday 21 October, and the goddess then sleeps for about five days. From Solapur it is 45 km, and the closing week of Navratri is where most Yatris get the dates wrong.

📅 The closing week, day by day

Navratri 2026 at Tuljapur opened with the goddess's Manchaki nidra from 3 to 10 October. On Sunday 11 October she is re-seated on the simhasan before dawn, Ghatasthapana follows in the afternoon, and the first Chhabina procession goes out that night.

In 2026 the Ashtami tithi ends mid-morning on 19 October, so Ashtami and Navami are observed together on Monday 19 October. The 20th is Khande Navami and hom day, and the town stays awake that night for the palang procession.

🪔 Simollanghan: what it is and when

Simollanghan means crossing the boundary, the Vijayadashami ritual of the goddess leaving her seat. At Tuljapur the idol is taken from the garbhagriha, placed in the palkhi and carried in procession around the temple at first light. In 2023 the palkhi left at 5 am, so plan to be inside the complex by 4 am.

Which day the Sansthan re-seats the goddess depends on the Purnima tithi, which runs from 11:55 am on 25 October to 9:41 am on 26 October. Check the Sansthan's programme before fixing the Kojagiri trip. Our Tuljapur Navratri guide covers the opening week.

🛕 Darshan hours and the paid line

On ordinary days aggregators list darshan from about 4 am to 10 pm, with earlier opening on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays and Kakad aarti around 4:30 am. During Navratri the temple has run near 24 hours for mukh darshan, and in June 2026 the Sansthan kept it open 22 hours a day.

The paid darshan pass, reported at ₹300 and ₹500 tiers, is not issued on Dussehra, Navratri peak days or Purnima according to pass-line listings. Budget many hours in the free queue on 19 to 21 October rather than relying on the pass. The VIP pass post explains the normal-day system.

🚗 Solapur to Tuljapur in the festival week

Tuljapur is about 45 km from Solapur on NH 52, under an hour on a normal day. On 19 to 21 October budget 1.5 to 2 hours, because the last stretch into town is routed through police barricades and parking grounds.

• Taxi: the only option for a 3 am start and a waiting return.

• MSRTC: ordinary buses from Solapur Central stand, platforms 10 to 12, with frequent walk-up services and bookable departures through the evening.

• Kojagiri padyatra: in 2025 the Solapur–Tuljapur road was closed to vehicles for the walkers before Purnima, so expect a similar closure around 24 to 25 October 2026.

Parking grounds named in the yatra plan include Ghatshil, HUDCO maidan, the fire-station lot and lots on Dharashiv, Latur and Naldurg roads. The district has 2,800 police on duty and a prohibitory order in force from 1 to 14 October, so carry ID and leave drones at home.

👪 Which day should you choose?

• Want the main ritual: reach Tuljapur by 4 am on Wednesday 21 October for Simollanghan. Stay the night of the 20th if you can.

• With elders: go on 12 to 16 October, after Ghatasthapana and before the Ashtami surge. The seated goddess is on darshan and the queue is manageable.

• On a tight schedule: Monday 19 October is the biggest day. If that is your only date, go for the Chhabina at night rather than the daytime queue.

• Avoid: 22 to 24 October, when the goddess is in Shramnidra, and the Kojagiri road closure if you are driving.

🛏️ Where to stay

Base yourself in Solapur for the closing week. Tuljapur's rooms go first to pilgrim groups, and the drive is under an hour with a 3 am start. Solapur also has the railway junction for Yatris coming from Pune or Hyderabad.

If you want the 20 October night procession and the dawn palkhi back to back, book a Tuljapur room now and accept the town will not sleep. Our Solapur to Tuljapur timings guide has the normal-day plan.

Reach before dawn on the 21st, and let the palkhi set the pace. Jai Bhavani.