Dussehra (Vijayadashami)
Celebrating the victory of good over evil, marking the end of Navratri.
तिथी व समय: Dashami (tenth day) of the Hindu month of Ashwin, the day after Navratri ends, usually in October.
महत्व एवं कथा (Significance)
Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami, marks the culmination of Navratri. In North India it commemorates Lord Rama's victory over the ten-headed demon king Ravana, often marked by burning giant effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna, and his son Meghnad. In East India, it marks the conclusion of Durga Puja and Goddess Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura, with the immersion of Durga idols.
The name 'Vijayadashami' literally means 'the victorious tenth day' — across its regional variations, the festival's common thread is the triumph of righteousness over evil.
पूजा विधि व परंपराएँ (Rituals & Customs)
- Ravana Dahan — burning effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad
- Durga Visarjan — immersing Durga idols (in eastern India)
- Ayudha Puja — worshipping tools, vehicles, and instruments of one's trade
- Processions re-enacting the Ramayana (Ramlila) in the days leading up to Dussehra