The word Dussehra is commonly understood as the day on which the ten-headed Ravana was defeated, and Vijayadashami means the tenth day of victory. Both names point to the same idea: that goodness, patience and right action ultimately overcome arrogance and wrongdoing. Many families see the ten heads of Ravana as ten inner faults, such as anger, greed, pride and envy, that each person is invited to overcome.
Vijayadashami is traditionally regarded as a fully auspicious day, so many people begin learning, open new books of account, buy vehicles or tools, or start new work on it, preferring the Vijay Muhurat shown above. It is also the day for worship of weapons and implements (Shastra Puja or Ayudha Puja), honouring whatever helps a person earn a livelihood.
Across India the day takes many forms: the burning of Ravana effigies after Ramlila, the immersion of Durga idols in Bengal, a royal procession in Mysuru, a gathering of village deities in Kullu, and a weeks-long festival for the goddess Danteshwari in Bastar.
In the Ramayana, Ravana, the king of Lanka, abducted Sita from the forest where she lived with Rama and Lakshmana. With the help of Hanuman, Sugriva and the army of monkeys and bears, Rama built a bridge to Lanka and fought a long war. According to tradition, after worshipping the goddess, Rama killed Ravana on the tenth day of the bright half of Ashvin, and the day has been celebrated as Vijayadashami ever since.
The same day also marks the end of the goddess Durga's battle with Mahishasura, who had driven the gods from heaven. After fighting for nine days and nights, she slew him on the tenth. Another story tells that the Pandavas, at the end of their year in disguise, retrieved the weapons they had hidden in a shami tree on this day, which is why the shami tree is worshipped on Vijayadashami.
