The festival of Dussehra is celebrated every year on the tenth day of the month of Ashwin.

 

The festival of Dussehra is celebrated every year on the tenth day of the month of Ashwin. This festival signifies the victory of good over evil, hence this festival is also called Vijayadashami. This time the holy festival of Dussehra is celebrated on 5 October 2022. This festival gives the message of goodness by eliminating evil.

In many parts of the country, it is celebrated to mark the victory of Lord Rama over ten-headed demon king of Lanka, Ravana. The term Dussehra is more common in North Indian states and Karnataka while the term Vijayadashami is more popular in West Bengal.

In North India, Dussehra is celebrated with much fanfare and Ram Lila, an enactment of Lord Rama's story, is organized on all nine days of Navratri culminating with the killing of Ravana and burning of his life-size effigy on the day of Dussehra or Vijayadashami along with those of Meghnad and Kumbhakaran. Dusshehra also signifies getting rid of sins or bad qualities as each head of the Ravana symbolizes one bad quality.

Dussehra for many means beginning preparation for Diwali, which is celebrated 20 days after Vijayadashami, the day when Lord Rama reached Ayodhya with Sita.

Worshipping Shami tree on the day of Vijayadashami holds a great significance in some parts of the country as it is believed that Arjun hid his weapons inside Shami tree during his exile. Shami Puja is also known as Banni Puja and Jammi puja in some of the southern states in India.

Happy Dussehra Divine Souls ~ Jai Shri Ram!