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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.
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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.
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.
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).
ॐ श्री रामाय नमः
oṃ śrī rāmāya namaḥ
Salutations to the auspicious Lord Rama, the embodiment of dharma
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.