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Dussehra 2019: Date, Time, Puja Vidhi, Shubh Muhurat, and all you need to know about Vijayadashmi

The auspicious festival of Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashmi celebrated in myriad ways in our country is a spectacle to behold. People in different states celebrate Dussehra in their own unique ways. Irrespective of the ways of celebration, the vibrancy and ethnicity remains the same. And so is the reason for celebrating this festival, as Dussehra marks the victory of good over evil.

In the east of India, the nine-day of Navratri/ Durga Puja following up to it commemorate the killing of the demon king Mahishasura by Goddess Durga. While in the southern, northern and western regions of the country, Dussehra honours Lord Rama’s victory over the destruction of the demon king Ravana of Lanka. It is celebrated with great fervour and excitement in cities like Varanasi, Ayodhya, Vrindavan, Madhubani, Almora and parts of Uttarakhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in North India.

Most devotees keep a fast during Navratri, which leads up to Dussehra. It's during this time that the Ram Lila play is enacted where different phases of Lord Rama’s life are portrayed. On the tenth day, hundreds of people gather to witness the end of Dussehra by burning effigies of the ten-headed Ravana, along with that of his brothers Meghanada and Kumbakaran, are burnt in large open grounds. The history of Ram killing Ravana on the Lila ground repeats every year and people rejoice at the moment. In no time the effigies are reduced to ashes and the crowd go back in joy and a new vigour for life.

Similarly, devotees of Maa Durga who celebrate Durga Puja during this period, carry the idols of goddess Durga in huge processions to local rivers to immerse them in the river. During the procession, devotees chant slogans and seek Maa Durga's blessings. They bid an emotional farewell to Maa Durga, hoping to have her sooner next year. This custom is symbolic of the departure of Goddess Durga to her husband, Shiva, in the Himalayas. This marks the end of the Dussehra and Durga Puja.

Interestingly, Dussehra also marks the beginning of the preparation for the festival of light-- Diwali-- which falls 20 days later.

Here is all you need to know about Vijayadashmi/ Dussehra:

Dussehra 2019: Date
This year, Dussehra will be celebrated on October 8 (Tuesday).

Dussehra 2019: Times & Shubh Muhurat
As per the Drik Panchang, the important ritual timings for Dussehra this year are as below:

Vijay Muhurat begins at 2:04 PM and goes on till to 2:50 PM on October 8.
Duration – 46 minutes

Aparahna Puja Time begins at 1:17 PM and goes on till 3:36 PM on October 8.
Duration – 02 hours 15 minutes

Meanwhile, the Dashami tithi starts on October 7 at 12:30 PM and goes on till October 8 at 2:50 PM.


Dussehra 2019: Puja Vidhi

As Dussehra signifies the victory of good over evil-- when Lord Ram killed the demon king Ravana or when Maa Durga killed the buffalo demon, Mahishasura-- this day is celebrated by performing a puja for ‘Astra’ i.e. weapons. Prayers are offered to Lord Ram and his brothers Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughan. For the puja, coins, roli, rice, jaggery, fruits, flowers and churas are also offered to the divine. As a part of the whole ritual, Diya are lit along with dhoop and agarbatti (intense sticks).

On Vijayadashami, special prayers and rituals are also performed in temples and households of devotees who celebrate Durga Puja.

This Dussehra, remember to seek the divine's blessings and help in overcoming all the evil in your life be it mental or material in any sphere of your life. Let there be light in the truest sense this Dussehra!



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