Dussehra 2023 Date in India: Shardiya Navratri Starts from 15 October

Dussehra 2023 is being celebrated on Tuesday, 24th October. It is also known as Vijayadashami or Dasara. The festival is also popular as Dashain in Nepal.

Dussehra is an important festival of Hindus that marks and celebrates the victory of good over evil. After the 9-day long festival of Navratri is over, the tenth day after this festivals is observed as Dussehra. The festival of Dussehra is known by different names in different regions of the country like Vijayadashmi, Dasara, Dashain, etc and is celebrated with great enthusiasm by the devotees of Maa Durga.

Dussehra 2023 Start and End Date

Festival	Dussehra
Also known as	Vijayadashmi, Dasara, Dashain
Start and end date	15th October to 24th October
Category	Hindu festival
Vijayadashmi date	24th October

Dasara Festivals Overview

Vijayadashmi is made from two words- vijaya meaning victory and dashmi meaning the tenth day. As per the Hindu calendar, it is observed every year on the tenth day of the month of Ashvin. This typically falls in the month of September or October in the Gregorian calendar.

It is a public holiday in a number of Indian states and all public offices, schools, banks and many private offices remain close on the occasion of Vijayadashmi.

Story behind Vijayadashami Celebrations

Dussehra or Vijayadashmi marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura and establishes the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Dussehra also holds importance in Ramayana and Mahabharata and is the day when Lord Rama defeated Ravana and Krishna defeated the entire Kuru army.

In Ramayana, when Ravana, the king of Lanka refused to release Sita, Lord Rama is left with no choice but to declare a war against Ravana and his demon army. But Ravana had got a boon from Lord Brahma and therefore special power was needed to kill him. When Lord Rama learned about this from Ravana’s brother Vibhishan, he performed 9-day long pooja of Goddess Durga to seek her blessings in defeated Ravana. After offering the pryaers and getting blessing from Maa Durga, Lord Rama killed Ravana on the 10^th day. The 9 days of worship is celebrated as Navratri and the tenth day when Ravana was killed is celebrated as Vijayadashmi.

In Mahabharata, where a battle was going on between Pandavas and Kauravas, Arjuna (a pandava king) engages in a battle with the entire Kuru army that consisted of over 1,000,000 soldiers and some great warriors such as Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Kripa and Ashwathama. By the blessings of Goddess Durga, Arjuna defeated the entire army all alone. It is believed that it is the same day on which Lord Rama killed Ravana and Goddess Durga killed Mahishasura (although in different yugas) when Arjuna defeated the Kuru warriors.

Check- Famous Temples of Ravana in India

Dussehra Significance

The festival of Vijayadashmi signifies the victory of dharma (or good) over adharma (or evil). Whether it is celebrated as Maa Durga’s victory over demon Mahishasura, Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana or Arjuna’s victory over the Kuru clan, the significance remains the same, good prevailing over bad.

How is Dasara Celebrated?

Grand celebrations are carried out on the occasion of Dussehra as it is one of the most auspicious festivals of Hindu. On this day, processions of clay idols of Maa Durga along with other Gods are carried out before immersing them into a water body such as river or pond. This signifies the return of Goddess to their abode after spending ten days on earth with the devotees.

Drama and plays based on the Ramayan and Ramcharitmanas, known as Ramlila, are performed that goes on for 10 days. Fairs or melas are organized and effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghanada are burnt as a part of Dussehra celebrations.

Shardiya Navratri 2023 Calendar

Day 1	15th October
Day 2	16th October
Day 3	17th October
Day 4	18th October
Day 5	19th October
Day 6	20th October
Day 7	21st October
Day 8	22nd October
Day 9	23rd October
Day 10	24th October

Dussehra Celebration in India

In order to celebrate the Dussehra festival, fairs are organized in various parts across the country. On the auspicious day of Dasara, people burn effigies of Ravana, and gigantic processions of goddess Goddess Durga are taken out. Ramlila is also one of the major attractions of Durga Puja:

“So, what is RAM LILA?”

Through Ram Lila, Lord Rama’s stories are performed on all nine days of Navratri. The other meaning of Dussehra is also getting rid of bad qualities or sins. Additionally, it also remarks the preparation of another biggest Hindu festival Diwali which falls just 20 days after the Vijayadashmi.

Dussehra 2023 Quotes and Wishes

Check out some wishes yo can send to your friends and family on the auspicious occasion of Dussehra.

May this Dussehra Maa Durga remove all the evils and troubles from your life. Wish you and your family a very happy Dussehra!

May Lord Ram keep showing you the right path and always help you achieve your goals! Happy Dussehra!

It’s a time for celebration, a time for victory of good over evil. Let us continue the same true spirit. Happy Dussehra!

Burn all the ego, hatred and anger within you with the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghanada on the auspicious occasion of Dussehra!

On this auspicious day of Dussehra, wishing you happiness, good health and success. Happy Vijayadashmi.

May this Dussehra brings a lot of joy, prosperity and success for you. May you get relief from your worries!

Here’s to celebrating the triumph of good over evil, and to remind that no matter how difficult is the path of truth, it alone shall prevail! Happy Dussehra.