Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra is celebrated with enthusiasm and fervour in the country every year. The festival of Vijayadasami is celebrated on the Dashami Shukla paksha of Ashwin month. It is a festival that signifies victory of good over evil. It represents  establishment of dharma and peace. On the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami, Ramlila is organized in different corners of the country to depict the significance of this festival. Kshatriya worship their weapons on this day and a sight of Lord Neelkanth is considered to be very auspicious. Dussehra is celebrated after the Navratra on the 10th day of the Navratra.

Dussehra is considered to be an highly auspicious muhurat.  It is an Abhuj Muhurta. Taking up new projects and inaugurating any business is considered auspicious on this day. Purchasing any new vehicle, electronic item, gold and clothes on this day  is also considered auspicious.  Worshipping lord Neelkantha on Dussehra brings prosperity.  People start new work on the day of Dussehra. They perform special rituals like Shastra Puja. In ancient times, Kings used to worship for victory before  going on for any war. Fairs are organised in every corner of the country. Dussehra is a symbol of sacrificing all the evil deeds, anger, ego, violence etc.

Dussehra Pujan

All the members of the family should complete their daily routine tasks and wear new clothes before the puja. Then, prepare 10 balls i.e Kanda from the cow’s dung and apply curd on each of them. Barley is grown on the first day Navratra. This plant is then kept on the Kand and then the god is worshipped with Dhoop, Diya, Rice and Roli. At some places there is a ritual to keep barley on the ear of son in a family and are offered to Lord Rama. Rest of them are kept in the puja.

Vijayadasami Muhurat

On this day, lord Rama killed Ravana. According to mythology, Sitaji was kidnapped by Ravana during her exile with lord Rama. Lord Rama fought with Ravana with the help of his brother Lakshman and Hanuman Ji and brought Sita back.

During the nine days of the war, Lord Rama worshipped goddess Durga and killed Ravana on the tenth day i.e Dashami. This is the reason that Vijayadashmi is one of the most significant day in Hindu mythology. On this day, Ravana is burnt along with his brother Kumbhakarna and son Meghnad in the form of a mannequin. After worshipping the Ravana’s idol in the morning, the mannequins are burnt on the onset of “Vijaya” star. This activity is completed before the sunset, as according to the hindu culture the cremation ceremony should be performed before sunset only.

Vijayadashami Puja

Many traditions and versions are completed in the festival of Dussehra. Many customs are practised in this festival and some important religious works like Krishi Mahautsava, Shastra Mahautsava, Shani Pujan, Aparajita Pujan and Shastra Pujan are performed.  The festival of Dussehra has its own cultural significance. In India, farmers bring home the grown crops in a form of wealth and worship the grains on this auspicious occasion. This festival is celebrated in various different forms throughout the country.

In Maharashtra this festival is also known as Sima Ullanghan. People cross the border of their territory on this day in the evening dressed up in new clothes and get the leaves of the “Shammi tree”. These leaves are then exchanged among friends and relatives as gold. Lord Shri Rama got victory on this day. On the tenth day of Ashwin Shukla, a star named Sandhya rises and during its rise a phase comes known as “Vijya Kaal” that is considered auspicious to complete any work. There is a story related to the celebration of this festival, which is as follows:

Once Devi Parvati was curious to know about the importance of this festival. She asked Lord Shiva to give her the answer and settle down her curiosity. Lord Shiva told her that in the evening of Ashwin Shukla’s tenth day a star rises in the sky during which a phase comes knows as “ Vijaya Kaal” and this phase is auspicious to get victory over enemies and all the wishes are fulfilled during this Kaal. If Shravana Nakshatra is formed on this day, then it becomes more auspicious. Lord Rama attacked Lanka during this phase and got victory over Ravana on this day only.