Vijaya Dashami or Dussehra

Dussehra is one of the prominent Festivals of Hindu Religion in India. This festival is mostly celebrated by hindus at the same time in different ways in different parts of India as well as around the world.

As per Hindu autumn calendar in the lunar month of Ashvin or Ashwayuja which falls in months of September or October. After the new moon which falls in Bhadrapada, to the next day or tenth day and culminates the tenth day as Dasara. After the completion of nine days of Navarathri, Vijaya Dashami falls on tenth day, 

At this time, the harvest season begins in India and Goddess Durga is invoked to initiate the new harvest season and achieve the vigor and fertility of soil. Hindus, as per their faith observe Vijaya Dashami through social gatherings and offering Prasadam (Prashad) to gods at home and in temples all over India and Nepal.

As per the History, there were some demons who were very powerful, ambitious and continually tried to capture Heaven and overtake Devas or Gods. During this period whole world was crushed under the dictatorship of demon Mahishasura. All the gods joined their energies to get rid of the demons rule and transferred all their energies to a single mass luminescent energy "Shakti " to kill Mahishasura.

A beautiful virgin with ten hands came out of powerful band of lighting from the mouths of Trimurthi’s (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) riding on a lion. Special weapons were received from all the Gods. This battle raged for nine days and Mahishasura was defeated and killed by Goddess Durga on the tenth day of Ashvin Shukla Paksha.

These nine days are called as “Navratri’s and the tenth day as “Vijaya Dashami.”

There are different stories regarding the celebration of this festival. 

1) The Lord's Shakti, Parvati, defeated demon Mahishasur on the 10th day after a 9-day battle. This is cited in the Skanda Puran.

2) On this day Lord Ram vanquished demon Ravan. Therefore people celebrate the Lord's victory by burning Ravan's effigy.

3) Mahaar, Dhaumya rishi’s son married to Shami, daughter of Aarva Rishi of Malwa. Both went to darshan and blessings of Shaunak rishi. On their way, they saw a rishi with trunk head and made fun of him. For which, both (Mahaar & Shami) were cursed into trees by the rishi. For their liberation they prayed to Lord Ganesha. They were blessed by Lord Ganesha that, Mahaar tree and Shami tree will be worshipped from then. Since then, people worship these Mahaar and Shami trees and give their offerings. It is said that this form of worship is equal to shiva’s puja. 

4) As per Skand Puran, another story revealed. Kautsa, who was the poor student of Vishwamitra Maharishi, approached Raghu Raja for wealth, to gift his guru. But Raghu Raja utilized all his resources for Vishwajit yagna by that time. Raghu Raja doesn’t wanted kautsa to leave empty hand, then he forayed into Kuber – the treasurer of the devas. The shami tree was sprinkled with14 crore gold coins by defeated kuber and the poor student gathered them and gifted to his guru. In turn, the poor were gifted with these gold coins by Vishwamitra. Thus, the leaves of shami considered as gold during puja. At this time, Shami tree gifted with wealth, so puja is performed to Shami tree during this festival.

5) A story revealed, when a battle between Arjuna and Duryodhan. Arjuna picked up his weapons hiding behind the Shami tree, to retrieve Virat Raja's cows from him.

Dussehra is the last day of Navratri; during these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshiped. It falls on the 10th day of the waxing moon during the Hindu month of Ashvin (around September or October). Dussehra in 2012 is on 24th of October.