Rama · Durga
Dussehra · Vijayadashami
The tenth day of victory: Ravana falls, the Devi prevails.
Tithi: Ashwin Shukla Dashami
In the simplest words
Good wins! Giant effigies of Ravan go up in fireworks because Ram defeated him today, and Durga defeated Mahishasura. Evil looks big, but it loses.
The story & purpose
Two victories share one day: Rama's over Ravana, and Durga's over Mahishasura. Effigies burn at dusk across the north as Ramlila ends; in Bengal the Devi is carried to the water for visarjan with shubho bijoya greetings.
The rest of the story
The day's quieter rite is the shami tree's: on it the Pandavas hid their weapons for the year of disguise, and from it Arjuna took them back on Vijayadashami. So the tree is thanked, and its leaves (or apta leaves in Maharashtra) exchanged as 'gold'. Kings once crossed their frontiers today, the seemollanghan, and the custom survives in every venture that picks this date to begin.
What is done
Ravana dahan
The effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad burn after sunset.
Shami & Aparajita puja
The shami tree and the unconquered Devi honoured in Vijay muhurat.
Ayudha puja · Vidyarambham
In the south, tools, instruments and books are worshipped on Mahanavami (Ayudha Puja); Kerala writes children's first letters on Vijayadashami (Vidyarambham).
Best timings
Vijay muhurat falls in the aparahna, the classical hour for beginning ventures.
Exact muhurat varies by city and tradition; for the precise hour, consult a local panchang for your location.
Worth knowing
Kullu's Dussehra begins when others end, with a week of deity processions.
The day is held so auspicious that no muhurat-checking is needed for new work.
Bengal closes Bijoya Dashami with sindoor khela: married women smear vermilion on the Devi, then on each other, before the immersion.
Mantras of this festival
Note: Some 2026 panchangs mark 19 October where dashami prevails at aparahna that day.