Vijaya Dashami is the culmination of the ancient Indian holiday Navaratri, honoring the Mother Goddess Devi. It is celebrated in the autumn, on the 10th day of the bright half of the Ashwin month according to the Hindu calendar.
History of the Appearance
Vijaya Dashami embodies the triumph of good over the dark sides of human nature, called rakshasas in Hinduism. On Vijaya Dashami, the victory of the goddess Durga over the mighty villain Bhandasura is celebrated. God Rama prevailed over the 10-headed giant-cannibal Ravana. Arjuna, the hero of the Indian epic “Mahabharata”, worshiped the goddess Devi before the battle of Kurukshetra began.
What is Customary to Do
At this time, female energy reaches its peak. Therefore, if there is a feeling that a certain quality is lacking, confidence in one’s abilities, soft feminine strength, prayer or meditation performed from a pure heart will help to get what you want. These wonderful days are ideal for formalizing your life goals on paper. The seeds of good intentions will surely grow in fertile ground. What is customary to do on Vijaya Dashami:
- pray from the bottom of your heart, visit the temple;
- decorate the house, filling it with joy and abundance. You can use scarlet roses, ripe fruits, sweet treats;
- make a wish list.
It is better to sow “reasonable, good, eternal” in the morning. Life plans are written on a piece of paper. At the end of the list, a phrase is indicated that demonstrates the absence of attachment to one’s own expectations - “God’s will be done”.It is quite difficult to decide on global goals in one fell swoop, so you should think about this in advance, prepare a draft, and rewrite it cleanly on the holiday. This list should be looked at from time to time, and a year later on a blessed day - refreshed. In addition, you can offer flowers and sweet gifts to the image of your favorite Deity.
How it is Celebrated
For 10 days on the streets of North India, you can see fascinating theatrical productions, images of famous historical scenes. And directly on Vijaya Dashami, they set fire to the effigy of Ravana and his accomplices, arrange colorful fireworks, celebrating the victory of light over darkness. Dussehra in Mysore is celebrated especially brightly. The city of Kullu is famous for its grandiose salutes and colorful lights. It is worth mentioning Ramlila, which is held in Varanasi. On this day, they worship God Rama, conduct meditations to obtain his blessing. Ancient rulers annually sent their troops to battle with enemies on this day. In the east of the country, at the end of the holiday, the statue of the goddess Durga was solemnly immersed in the sea, believing that she would sail to Kailash (a sacred mountain that serves as a place of pilgrimage for Hindus and Tibetan Buddhists). Thus, Vijaya Dashami is an extremely important day in the Vedic tradition, helping to overcome one’s own ego and pride.
