What is Dussehra?
Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami, falls on the tenth day after Navratri. It marks Lord Rama's victory over Ravana and Goddess Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura. Both stories carry the same message: good wins over evil.
How is it celebrated?
Across North India, the Ramlila, a dramatic retelling of the Ramayana, is staged over several nights. On Dussehra evening, huge effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna are burned in open grounds as crowds cheer and fireworks light the sky.
A day for new beginnings
Many people consider Vijayadashami an auspicious day to start something new, such as a business, a new vehicle, or a child's first lesson. Tools and weapons are worshipped in the Ayudha Puja tradition.