22nd October, 2015 is one of the most important Hindu festivals Vijaya Dashami (also known as Dussehra or Dasara or Tenth day of Navratri or Durgotsav)

22^nd October, 2015 is one of the most important Hindu festivals Vijaya Dashami (also known as Dussehra or Dasara or Tenth day of Navratri or Durgotsav) is celebrated in various forms across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The name Dussehra is derived from sanskrit Dasha-hara literally means Dashanan Ravan [Name of devil & in short Dasha and Hara (defeat)] referring to Bhagwan Shri Ram’s victory over the ten-headed demon King Ravan.

The day also marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasur. The name Dussehra is also derived from sankrit Dasha + Ahaha = Dasharahaha = Dasharaha. Ahaha means day.

The name Vijayadashami is also derived from the sanskrit words "Vijaya-dashami" literally meaning the victory on the dashami (Dashami being the tenth lunar day of the Hindu calendar month). Diwali the festival of lights is celebrated twenty days after Dussehra.

As per Hindu religion, on this day in the Treta Yug, Bhagwan Shri Ram (the seventh Avatar of Lord Vishnu) killed demon King Ravan who had abducted Shri Ram's wife Sita to his Kingdom Lanka. God Ram, his brother Lakshman, their follower Hanuman and Vanaras army fought a great battle with Ravan & demons army in Lanka. On the day of Ashvin Shukla Dashami, Bhagwan Shri Ram defeated and killed demon Ravan and rescued Sita thus it is termed as Vijaya Dashami. The entire narrative is recorded beautifully in the Greatest Indian Epic Ramayan, a Hindu scripture.

God Shri Ram, Goddess Sita and Veer Lakshman returned to Ayodhya on the 30th day of Ashvin (20 days after Vijaya Dashami). To mark the return of Lord Ram, the residents of Ayodhya lit their city with millions of earthen lamps (called Deepak) in the evening. Since then, this day is celebrated in India as Deepawali or Diwali.

Once upon a time, some of the demons or Asuras were very powerful & ambitious and continually tried to defeat the Devas or Devatas and capture Heaven. One Asura named Mahishasura was grew very powerful and created havoc on the earth. Under his leadership, the Asuras defeated the Devatas. The world was crushed under Mahishasura's tyranny; then the Devatas joined their energies into one ‘Shakti’, a single mass of incandescent energy to kill Mahishasura.

A very powerful band of lightning emerged from the mouths of Brahma, Vishnu & Mahesh and a young, beautiful female virgin with ten hands appeared. All the Gods gave their special weapons to her. This Shakti coalesced to form the Goddess Durga, riding on a lion which assisted her. Durga fought Mahishasura, the battle raged for nine days & nights. Finally on the tenth day of Ashvin shukla paksha, Mahishasura was defeated and killed by Durga. Hence Dasha-Hara is also known as Navratri or Durgotsav and is a celebration of Durga's victory over Mahishasura. Durga, as Consort of Lord Shiva, represents two forms of female energy-one mild & protective and the other fierce & destructive.

In the age of Dvapar Yug, during the India’s Greatest Epic Mahabharat, Pandavas-the five acknowledged sons of Pandu by his wife Kunti-lost to Kauravas in a game of dice, and both spent twelve years of Vanavas, or exile to the forest, followed by one year of Agnyatawas. The brothers hid their weapons in a hole of the Shami tree before entering the Kingdom of Virat to complete the final year of Agnyatawas (exile incognito). After that year on Vijayadashmi, they recovered the weapons, declared their true identities and defeated Kauravas, who had attacked King Virat to steal his cattle. Since that day, Shami trees and weapons have been worshipped and the exchange of Shami leaves on Vijayadashmi has been a symbol of good will and victory. This is also called Shami/Jambi Puja.

Many people perform "Aditya Homa" as a "Shanti Yajna" and recite Sundar Kand of Ramayan for 5 days. These Yajna performances are thought to create powerful agents in the atmosphere surrounding the house that will keep the household environment clean and healthy. These rituals are intended to rid the household of the ten bad qualities which are represented by 10 heads of Demon Ravan as follows :-

(1) Kama vasana (Lust)

(2) Krodha (Anger)

(3) Moha (Attraction)

(4) Lobha (Greed)

(5) Mada (Over Pride)

(6) Matsara (Jealousy)

(7) Swartha (Selfishness)

(8) Anyaaya (Injustice)

(9) Amanavata (Cruelty)

(10) Ahankara (Ego).

Some householders perform Yajnas thrice daily along with Sandhya Vandan which is also called Aahavaneeya Agni, Grahapatya Agni or Dakshina Agni. In addition, the Aditya Homa is performed with the Maha Surya Mantras and the Aruna Prapathaka of the Yajurveda. These mantras are believed to keep the heart, brain and digestive functions in balance in the absence of adequate sunlight in the winter months.

Ravan-Dahan is practiced in the many cities since a long time. A huge effigy of Ravan from small to as big as 60 feet height tall is set up in an open ground for burning. In the evening, people gather in open spaces to start singing & dancing with banjo party and waiting for the final burning. Vijayadashami or Dussehra is symbolization of triumph over evil i.e. Ravan by Shri Ram.

Ravan Dahan witnesses a huge gathering of crowd from far-off places, people keenly anticipating for the moment when their Bhagwan Shri Ram would win in this virtual war by bringing the effigies of Ravan to almost ashes. “Truth is always Victorious.”