Dussehra

or Dasara, or Vijayadashami

Dussehra is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year.

Why is it important?

Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami, Dasara, or Dashain) is a Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil.

Dussehra is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Ashvina (September–October), the seventh month of the Hindu calendar, with the appearance of the full moon, an event called the "bright fortnight" (shukla paksha).

For many, it marks the beginning of preparation for Diwali, which occurs 20 days after Dussehra.

Stories & Legends

Many legends have been associated with celebration of this day.

Durga's victory over Mahishasura

In the eastern and northeastern states of India, it marks the end of Durga Puja, remembering goddess Durga's victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura to help restore dharma ("divine law")

Rama's victory over Ravana

The epic Ramayana tells the story of the triumph of Rama, an avatar of Vishnu, over the 10-headed demon king Ravana, who abducted Rama's wife, Sita, the beloved princess of India.

On the day of Dussehra, large statues of Ravana are constructed and brought into open fields.

The Pandavas brothers' victory over evil

The Mahabharata is another series of Hindu stories that play a role in the Dussehra festival. The Pandavas were five brothers who fought evil forces with a set of distinctive weapons, which they hid in a tree while they went into exile for one year. When they returned from exile, they found them and worshipped the tree before going to a battle, which they won.

Many names, similar symbols

Da┼øahar─ü, Dasehra, Dashahara, Dashera, Dassera, Vijayadashami

Vijayada┼øam─½

Vijayada┼øam─½ (ÓñÁÓñ┐Óñ£Óñ»ÓñªÓñÓñ«ÓÑÇ) is a compound of the two words vijaya (ÓñÁÓñ┐Óñ£Óñ», 'victorious' and da┼øam─½ (ÓñªÓñÓñ«ÓÑÇ, 'tenth')

Da┼øahar─ü

Da┼øahar─ü (ÓñªÓñÓñ╣Óñ░Óñ¥), which is a Sanskrit compound word composed of da┼øama (ÓñªÓñÓñ«, 'tenth') and ahar (ÓñàÓñ╣Óñ░ÓÑì, 'day')

Dussehra

The name may be derived from the Sanskrit words dasha ("ten") and hara ("defeat").