Dussehra

Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is the grand festival celebrating the victory of good over evil and dharma over adharma. It is observed on the tenth day (Dashami) of the Shukla Paksha in the Ashwin month, the very day after the conclusion of Shardiya Navratri. This day is considered one of the three most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar — any new venture, purchase, journey, or investment can be undertaken on this day without needing a separate muhurat.

In the evening, giant effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad are erected in open grounds, filled with firecrackers, and set ablaze with flaming arrows. Across the country, magnificent Ramlila performances unfold — beginning during Navratri and concluding on Dussehra with the scene of Ravana's slaying. In Bengal, this is also the day of Maa Durga's farewell, with the playful Sindoor Khela tradition and the immersion of the idol in sacred waters.

During the Treta Yuga, when the demon king Ravana of Lanka abducted Mother Sita, Lord Shri Rama waged war on Lanka with his army of Vanaras (monkey warriors). After a fierce battle lasting nine days, on the tenth day — Ashwin Shukla Dashami — Lord Rama slew Ravana and liberated Sita. In remembrance of this divine victory, this day is celebrated as "Vijayadashami." It stands as a powerful symbol of the great triumph of truth, dharma, and noble conduct.

According to another famous legend, there was once a powerful demon named Mahishasura who had received a boon from Lord Brahma that no man could ever slay him. Misusing this power, he wreaked havoc across the three worlds and tormented the gods. To restore balance, the combined energies of all the gods gave rise to Maa Durga.

Maa Durga waged a fierce battle against Mahishasura for nine continuous days. Mahishasura kept changing his form — sometimes a buffalo, sometimes a lion, sometimes a man. Finally, on the tenth day, Maa Durga slew him with her trident and earned the divine title "Mahishasura Mardini" (the slayer of Mahishasura). Thus, Dussehra is also a symbol of Maa Durga's triumph.

Dussehra does not have one single main dish, but each region celebrates with its own special delicacies. In North India, Jalebi is the most famous — it is believed that Lord Rama loved Jalebi (called "Shashkuli" in ancient times), which is why it became the main prasad after his victory over Ravana.

The tradition of Shastra Puja (worship of weapons) on Dussehra traces back to the Mahabharata era. During their exile, the Pandavas had hidden all their divine weapons on a Shami tree. After one year, on this very Vijayadashami day, they retrieved their weapons from the Shami tree, performed their worship, and went on to defeat the Kauravas. Even today, soldiers, police, businesspeople, and craftsmen worship their tools, weapons, machines, and vehicles. This practice symbolizes deep reverence for "the instruments of one's livelihood and duty."