Dussehra (Vijayadashami): Meaning, Stories and Ravana Dahan

Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami, falls on the tenth day of the bright fortnight of Ashwin, the day after Navami. The name Vijayadashami means "the tenth day of victory". Two different stories are told on this day, one centred on Rama and the other on the goddess Durga, and both express the same idea: that dharma prevails over adharma.

Story one: Rama and Ravana

In the Ramayana, Rama, a prince of Ayodhya, was exiled for fourteen years. During the exile his wife Sita was abducted by Ravana, the learned but arrogant king of Lanka. With the help of Hanuman and an army of vanaras, Rama crossed the sea and fought Ravana. On this tenth day, according to the tradition, Rama defeated him. A short summary of the epic is in The Ramayana in brief.

In northern and western India, the story is retold through Ramlila performances in the preceding days. The final night usually ends with the burning of towering effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna and his son Meghnad. These burnings, called Ravana Dahan, are community events with fireworks. You can learn more about the theatre tradition in Ramlila: the living theatre of the Ramayana.

Story two: Durga and Mahishasura

In eastern and southern India, Vijayadashami is the day on which the goddess is said to have defeated Mahishasura, ending the nine nights of Navratri. In Bengal it is the day of farewell to Durga, with processions and immersion. The tale is explained in Mahishasura Mardini.

Other customs

• Shami puja: in parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka people exchange leaves of the Shami or Apta tree as symbols of gold and goodwill. The tradition links to the Mahabharata, in which the Pandavas hid their weapons in a Shami tree.
• Ayudha puja: tools, books and vehicles are worshipped, especially in the south.
• Vidyarambham: in Kerala and Karnataka, children are often introduced to writing on this day.
• New beginnings: Vijayadashami is considered an auspicious day to start a business, a journey or a course of study.

Celebrating meaningfully

Visit a Ramlila or a community effigy burning with children, keep a safe distance from fireworks, and use the occasion to talk about the story's lessons. Many communities now use eco-friendly materials for effigies. After Dussehra comes a gap of roughly twenty days before Diwali, the festival that Rama's return to Ayodhya is said to have inspired.