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Lord Rama / Goddess Durga
Lord Rama vanquished the ten-headed Ravana on this day after a fierce battle, rescuing Sita from Lanka. In another tradition, Goddess Durga slayed the buffalo demon Mahishasura on this tenth day (Vijayadashami). Both stories celebrate the triumph of righteousness.
Vijayadashami — the "tenth day of victory". Considered the most auspicious day to begin new ventures, buy property, or start learning. The burning of Ravana symbolizes the destruction of the ten vices (ego, greed, lust, etc.).
Burn effigies of Ravana, Meghanada, and Kumbhakarna. Perform Shastra Puja (worship of weapons/tools). Exchange Apta leaves (symbolizing gold). In Bengal, it marks Durga Visarjan. Ram Lila performances conclude on this day.
Dussehra puja is performed during Vijaya Muhurta, which falls in the Aparahna (afternoon) period on Ashwin Shukla Dashami. The most auspicious window is typically between 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM.
On this auspicious Vijaya Dashami (Dussehra), I worship Lord Rama and Goddess Aparajita for victory over evil, success in all endeavours, and the triumph of dharma.
Clean the puja area. Set up images of Lord Rama and/or Goddess Durga. Collect shami leaves, aparajita flowers, and arrange the tools/instruments of your livelihood for Shastra Puja.
Worship the Shami tree (or its leaves placed on the altar). Offer kumkum, akshat, and flowers to the shami leaves. The Shami tree is revered because Arjuna hid his weapons in a shami tree during the Pandavas' exile.
Worship Goddess Aparajita (the Unconquered) with blue aparajita flowers, sandalwood paste, and kumkum. Chant the Aparajita Mantra. She grants invincibility and success.
Aparajita Mantra
ॐ अपराजितायै नमः। हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे। हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे॥
Worship Lord Rama with flowers, sandalwood, kumkum, and akshat. Offer blue flowers (Rama's favourite colour is blue/dark). Chant the Rama Mantra and read a passage from the Ramayana (Lanka Kanda — Rama's victory over Ravana).
Rama Mantra
ॐ श्री रामाय नमः
Arrange your instruments of livelihood — vehicles, tools, books, computers, musical instruments, kitchen utensils — near the puja altar. Apply kumkum and akshat on each item. Offer flowers and sandalwood paste. This consecrates your means of earning and creation.
After the puja, cross the boundary of your village or locality in the North-East direction. This is called Seemollanghana — a ritual crossing symbolizing victory and expansion. Carry shami leaves with you.
Exchange shami leaves with neighbours and friends, saying "शमी शमयते पापं शमी शत्रुविनाशिनी। अर्जुनस्य धनुर्धारी रामस्य प्रियदर्शिनी॥" — The shami leaves symbolize gold and prosperity being exchanged.
Offer sweets (jalebi, shrikhand), fruits, and coconut as naivedya. Perform aarti with camphor and ghee lamp.
In the evening, attend or organize the Ravana Dahan — burning of effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghanada. This symbolizes the victory of good over evil, Rama's triumph over Ravana.
Aparajita Mantra
ॐ अपराजितायै नमः। हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे। हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे॥
oṃ aparājitāyai namaḥ | hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare | hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare ||
Salutations to the Unconquered Goddess Aparajita. Hare Krishna, Hare Rama — the maha mantra invoking divine victory.
Rama Mantra
ॐ श्री रामाय नमः
oṃ śrī rāmāya namaḥ
Salutations to the auspicious Lord Rama, the embodiment of dharma
108x Japa CountVijaya Dashami Prayer (Shami Shloka)
शमी शमयते पापं शमी शत्रुविनाशिनी। अर्जुनस्य धनुर्धारी रामस्य प्रियदर्शिनी॥
śamī śamayate pāpaṃ śamī śatruvināśinī | arjunasya dhanurdhārī rāmasya priyadarśinī ||
The Shami tree destroys sins, the Shami annihilates enemies. She bore Arjuna's bow and is beloved of Rama.
आरती कीजे श्री रामचन्द्र जी की। दुष्ट दलन सीतापति जी की॥ गल में सुशोभित कौस्तुभ माला। बाजूबन्द नवरत्न उजाला॥ आरती कीजे श्री रामचन्द्र जी की॥ शिर पर मुकुट बनत है साजे। देखत मुख जन सकल रीझाजे॥ आरती कीजे श्री रामचन्द्र जी की॥ सियाजी साथ विराजत सुन्दर। छवि बनी रही नयन अभिरामा अन्तर॥ आरती कीजे श्री रामचन्द्र जी की॥ भक्त हनुमत चँवर डुलावें। श्री लक्ष्मण शत्रुघ्न भरत सुख गावें॥ आरती कीजे श्री रामचन्द्र जी की॥ कनक थार में बहुविधि भोगा। अरती करत शोभासिन्धु योगा॥ आरती कीजे श्री रामचन्द्र जी की॥ आरती कीजे श्री रामचन्द्र जी की। दुष्ट दलन सीतापति जी की॥ ॥ इति श्री रामचन्द्र आरती सम्पूर्णम् ॥
āratī kīje śrī rāmacandra jī kī | duṣṭa dalana sītāpati jī kī || gala meṃ suśobhita kaustubha mālā | bājūbanda navaratna ujālā || āratī kīje śrī rāmacandra jī kī || śira para mukuṭa banata hai sāje | dekhata mukha jana sakala rījhāje || āratī kīje śrī rāmacandra jī kī || siyājī sātha virājata sundara | chavi banī rahī nayana abhirāmā antara || āratī kīje śrī rāmacandra jī kī || bhakta hanumata caṃvara ḍulāveṃ | śrī lakṣmaṇa śatrughna bharata sukha gāveṃ || āratī kīje śrī rāmacandra jī kī || kanaka thāra meṃ bahuvidhi bhogā | aratī karata śobhāsindhu yogā || āratī kīje śrī rāmacandra jī kī || āratī kīje śrī rāmacandra jī kī | duṣṭa dalana sītāpati jī kī || || iti śrī rāmacandra āratī sampūrṇam ||
Jalebi, shrikhand, pedha, seasonal fruits, coconut, and farsaan (savoury snacks)
Victory over enemies and obstacles, triumph of dharma over adharma, success in all new ventures begun on this day, purification and empowerment of all tools and instruments, and the blessings of Rama and Aparajita for invincibility