Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is a major Hindu festival that marks the end of Navratri. It is celebrated on the 10th day of Ashvin, the seventh month of the Hindu calendar. This year, Dussehra will be celebrated on Friday, October 15.
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Dussehra marks the victory of Lord Ram over Ravana, the ruler of Lanka in the epic Ramayana. According to Hindi mythology, Ravana was defeated by Lord Rama and his wife Sita was successfully rescued from Ravana's imprisonment. On this day, people burn giant effigies of Ravana to signify the destruction of evil.
This festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in north, west and central India. Also, in parts of Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar as Dashain.
Shami Puja, Aparajita Puja and Seema Avalanghan are some of the rituals that are followed on the day of Vijayadashami. According to the Hindu belief, these rituals should be done during Aparahna time.
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