Vijayadashami

Vijayadashami  is also called as Dasara/ Dussehra.It is one of the most important festivals celebrated in various forms, across India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Dasara  is derived from the Sanskrit word Dasha-hara.

Dasa is ten and hara means removing, therefore removing of the ten heads which symbolize the nine emotions of human beings and the remaining one is the intellect. If intellect succumbs to the nine emotions then there is no meaning of intellect and the ultimate end would be death.

Dasa also means the state or fate and Hara is removing, therefore Dasara signifies removal of bad fate. It means that if Goddess Durga is worshipped on this day and the preceding nine days then the virtue of the worship would help the devotee overcome the effect of the bad fate or bad Dasha in their life.

Dasara is celebrated on the tenth day after a nine day celebrations called as Durga Navratri. The nine days represent the nine forms of Bhakti and Dasara signifies that if anyone would worship Goddess Durga with any one of the nine types of Bhakti, they would be able to attain salvation or a darshan of Goddess Durga. This means that a devotee can choose any one or many of the nine types of bhakti to attain the ultimate goal of unifying with the God or salvation or reaching of the God.

The other name of Dasara is Vijaya Dashami. Vijaya means victory and Dashami is the thithi of the day and hence Vijaya Dashami signifies a day that would give victory in whatever endeavor we undertake. Another significance of Dasara is, it is one among the three days of the year, on which a work can be started without looking for a Muhurat or auspicious time. The other two days of the year being Ugadi or Gudi Padwa and Akshaya Tritiya.

"The stories behind celebration of Dasara are different for different regions In India. Dasha hara literally means removing Ten and also known as Victory of Good over Evil.  In north India it is celebrated as the day of Victory of God Rama over Ravana. In Southern parts of india it marks the Victory of Durga Mata over Mahishasura. Godess Durga is also known as Mahishasura Mardhini. 

Durga Maa

The nine days of Navratri is celebrated with the first three days dedicated to Goddes Durga, the second three days to Goddess Lakshmi and the last three days to Goddess Saraswati. Vijayadasami is celebrated on the tenth day invoking the blessings of Goddess Saraswati.

On Vijayadasami, people make an auspicious begining of art and learning. Children who are to start their education are admitted in a school on Vijayadasami. People who also want to pursue the learning of any art and craft forms commence their studies on Vijayadasami. Vijayadasami forms an auspicious day to start any process of learning as it is dedicated Goddess Saraswati, the source of all knowledge.

In South India,nineth day is celebrated as Saraswathy/Ayudha  Pooja. People place their books and weapons before the picture of the Goddess for worship.On tenth day that is on Vijayadasami people will use the weapons and read the book which is kept infront of God.