Vijayadashami — the 'victory tenth' — carries two triumphs at once: Rama's victory over Ravana, celebrated in the North as the climax of nine nights of Ramlila with the burning of Ravana's effigy, and Durga's victory over Mahishasura, completing Navratri — in Bengal, the day the Goddess is farewelled in immersion with the greeting 'Bijoya.'

Because the day is named Victory, the tradition treats it as inherently auspicious for beginnings: a child's first letters (vidyarambha), new learning, new work. Whatever the region's ritual, the theology is one — what obstructs dharma can be defeated, and the day exists to remember that.

Key facts

• Dates: October 20th, 2026
• Ruling deities: Rama, Durga
• Regional names: Dussehra (north), Vijayadashami (south), Bijoya Dashami (east), Dussehra (west)

How it is observed

• Ravana Dahan in the North: effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad burn at dusk, closing the Ramlila cycle.
• Shami puja: the shami tree, under which the Pandavas hid their weapons in the Mahabharata's telling, is honored; exchanging its leaves as 'gold' remains a living custom in Maharashtra and the Deccan.
• Ayudha Puja, especially in the South: the tools of one's work — instruments, vehicles, machines, books — are cleaned, decorated, and worshipped as the day's form of the Goddess's blessing on livelihood.
• Vidyarambha and new beginnings: children are traditionally initiated into letters, and new ventures begun, on the strength of the day itself.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Navratri Explained: The Significance of the Nine Nights, the Nine Forms of Durga, Ghatasthapana, and the Vrat
• Sunderkand Path: The Story, the Meaning, and How to Recite It at Home Every Week
• The Ramayana, kanda by kanda
• Vehicle muhurat guide 2026

Plan Dussehra (Vijayadashami) with Purohit Ji

Purohit Ji grounds the observance in your own city and Panchang — timings, vidhi, and what to prepare, answered for your home rather than in general.