Dussehra

Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami, celebrates the victory of good over evil and dharma over adharma. It marks two mythological endings that fall on the same day: Lord Rama's defeat of the demon king Ravana and Goddess Durga's defeat of the buffalo demon Mahishasura, both after prolonged battles lasting several days.

Towering effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna, and his son Meghnada are set ablaze in public grounds, usually as the finale of weeks of Ramlila stage performances re-enacting the Ramayana. In eastern India, the day instead marks the immersion of Durga idols after Durga Puja, accompanied by Sindoor Khela, where married women smear vermillion on each other's faces as a farewell to the Goddess.

Tradition holds that Lord Rama defeated Ravana on this day after a long war fought to rescue his wife, Sita, whom Ravana had abducted and held captive in Lanka. The day falls on the tenth day (Dashami) of the bright fortnight of Ashwin, immediately after the nine nights of Navratri, tying the two festivals together as one extended celebration of the Goddess's and Lord Rama's triumphs.

On this same day, Goddess Durga is said to have achieved victory over Mahishasura after a nine-day battle, ending his reign of terror over the gods. The dual mythology - one of Rama and Ravana, the other of Durga and Mahishasura - is why Dussehra is celebrated differently across India, with effigy burning more prominent in the north and Durga immersion processions more prominent in the east.

• •Effigy Burning
• •Worship of Weapons
• •Shami Tree Worship

• •Aparajita Puja
• •Victory Tilak
• •Sindoor Khela (Bengal)

• •Jambu Savari in Mysuru
• •Kullu Dussehra Mela
• •Bastar Dussehra

Dos and Don'ts