Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is celebrated on the tenth day of Navratri and marks the victory of good over evil. The festival falls on the tenth day of the bright half of the month of Ashvin (September-October) and is one of the most significant festivals in the Hindu calendar. It commemorates two pivotal mythological victories: Lord Rama's defeat of the ten-headed demon king Ravana, and Goddess Durga's slaying of the buffalo demon Mahishasura after a nine-day battle.
In North India, Dussehra is celebrated with dramatic performances of the Ramlila - theatrical enactments of episodes from the Ramayana performed over the preceding days. The celebrations culminate on Dussehra evening with the burning of towering effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna, and son Meghnad, filled with firecrackers that explode spectacularly. The Ramlila of Ramnagar near Varanasi, the Delhi Ramlila at Red Fort grounds, and the Kullu Dussehra in Himachal Pradesh are among the most famous celebrations.
In South India, Vijayadashami has a distinctly different character. In Mysuru (Mysore), the ten-day Dasara festival features a magnificent royal procession with a decorated elephant carrying the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, accompanied by caparisoned elephants, cavalry, and cultural troupes. This celebration, rooted in the Wodeyar dynasty tradition, attracts visitors from around the world. The illuminated Mysore Palace during Dasara is a breathtaking sight.
Dussehra also marks the auspicious time for new beginnings. It is considered one of the most propitious days in the Hindu calendar for starting new ventures, purchasing property, or initiating education. In many regions, tools, weapons, books, and musical instruments are worshipped on this day as part of Ayudha Puja, and children begin their formal education (Vidyarambham) by writing their first letters in rice grains.
