Dussehra 2025: Mythology, Rituals, and the Symbolism behind the Festival

India is a country of radiant and vivid cultures, customs, various glorious festivals and perennial beliefs. Dussehra or Vijayadashami is one such momentous occasion where the whole country comes together and celebrates this festival. Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day of the Ashwin month which mostly falls in October and sometimes in September, as per Hindu Panchang, or in easier words it falls on the tenth day of Navratri.

This year Dussehra or Vijayadashami will be celebrated all across India on the 2nd of October 2025. The very auspicious festival of Navratri concludes with this sacred day of Dussehra or Vijayadashami. The universal truth that prevails around this sacred day is Good always wins over evil no matter how strong the evil is.

The Mythological Background of Dussehra

There are different mythological stories are famous as to why Dussehra or Vijayadashami is celebrated. Ther are:

1, The very famous and sacred saga of Lord Rama and demon king Ravana
Dussehra is observed across the Indian sub-continent where the devotees celebrate the win and victory of Lord Rama over the demon king who lived and ruled Lanka, Ravana. In the sacred epic saga of Ramayana, one can read and come to know that the demon king Ravana abducted by cheating Mata Sita, the wife of Lord Rama.

Then Lord Rama in unison with Lord Hanuman and his Vanar Sena (army of humanly monkeys) defeated Ravana by entering his Country, Lanka and bringing back Mata Sita. Lord Rama was also helped in this war by Vibhishan who was demon king Ravan’s younger brother as he was devotee of Lord Rama and wanted to support the cause of righteousness.

Lord Rama with this win over Ravan established the fact that Good always defeats evil, and thus virtue and integrity once again prevailed everywhere. This whole episode of righteousness is marked and celebrated by burning huge effigies of Ravana, his son Meghnath and his brother Kumbhakaran across the country.

Small kids dress up as Lord Rama, Lakshman Ji, Mata Sita and Lord Hanuman. Crackers are burst, Ram Leela is performed across a period of 10 days i.e. throughout Navratri and on the 10th Day these Kids or elders dressed up as Lord Rama use bow and burnings arrows to burn these huge effigies of Ravana, his son Meghnath and his brother Kumbhakaran, and this is called Ravan Dahan or Raavan Dahan.

2. The Triumph of Goddess Durga over buffalo demon king Mahishasura
Dussehra marks the conclusion or the tenth day of Durga Puja which is observed in eastern and north eastern states of India like West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam, Dussehra is observed as it is on this day that Maa Durga overpowered and slayed the buffalo demon king Mahishasura after an intense battle of nine days. Vijayadashami is a reverence that the supreme feminine divinity eventually conquered over arrogance and evil.

3. South of India marks this day as Ayudha Puja
Southern states of India celebrate this day as Ayudha Puja, where the devotees honour and worship the tools, automobiles and other similar devices. It is their way to pay their respects to their means of livelihood and also to celebrate any new ventures.

Rituals and Celebrations

Even though there are different nomenclatures and different customs and rituals to celebrate this day, the faith and devotion towards the almighty is the same. There are different celebration methods which include:

1. Ram Leela and Ravana Dahan – In northern states of India, staged theatrical performance of the epic Saga Ramayana are performed which is known as Ram Leela. Ram Leela goes on throughout the 9 days of Navratri, where the whole saga of Lord Rama’s life story starting right from his birth, ranging to his 14 year long Vanvas or exile and finally concluding with his victory over Demon King Ravana in order to bring back home Mata Sita post her abduction by Ravana.

On the night of Dussehra, effigies of Ravana, his son Meghnath, and his brother Kumbhakaran are burnt by fireworks where bow and arrows are used to burn the effigies just like the episode where Lord Rama had ended the life of Ravana by killing with a arrow aimed at his naval which was his lifeline. symbolizing the destruction of evil. Families gather in large grounds, children cheer, and the atmosphere fills with festive energy.

2, Visarjan of Maa Durga Murti (immersion of the idols) – In the Eastern and north-eastern states of India, Dussehra is concluded by bidding adieu to the supreme feminine divinity Maa Durga by Visarjan of the idols in nearby lakes, ponds or river. marks the farewell of Goddess Durga after Durga Puja.

Sindoor Khela is observed where women smear sindoor/ sindur (vermilion) on each other’s faces and foreheads as a mark of Maa Durga’s blessings as sindoor is also a sign of prosperity. Murti Visarjan or immersion of idols of the deity are also in unison with grand processions which are a representation of her return to her home and her husband, to Lord Shiva at the Kailash Parvat (Mt. Kalilash).

3. Ayudha Puja and Vidyarambham – Souther states of India like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, celebrate Ayudha Puja and Vidyarambham. Ayudha Puja honors the tools and means of livelihood and Vidyarambham is the celebration of a child’s first day of learning which is marked by them writing their first ever alphabets on sand.

What does Dussehra symbolize

Dussehra or Vijayadashami is not just a day of an auspicious and sacred celebration, but it has the life’s real truths connected with it:

• The downfall and killing of Ravana symbolize that ego, pride, vice and unethical behaviour always loses from truth and virtue.
• It is a reminder to one and all that we all should try and destroy our inner demons of ego, hatred and immorality.
• One India, diverse traditions but united at heart.

Conclusion

Dussehra or Vijayadashami is an emblem of virtue over immorality. It reminds us at this time of the year that no matter how powerful evil is, the good and the moral always win. The destruction of Ravana in Dussehra or the killing of buffalo king Mahishasura all lead to the same truth. The brightness of fireworks and the feeling of coming together as a community to celebrate festivities symbolizes that we are all one and are just different aspects of the same coin.

Be it Navratri or Durga Puja, the lights, the homes, the streets and the pandals are all lighted with colourful lights and aromatic diyas. The true diversity of Indian culture can be seen during these 10 days. Music and dance of dandiya, colourful puja pandals, heartwarming Sindoor Khela all just fill our hearts with warmth and devotion.

In this smart, modern world Dussehra has become even more relevant. Just like Lord Rama who destroyed Ravan’s ahankar and pride and Maa Durga who demolished Mahishasura’s ego, we all should kill our inner demons and be the best versions of ourselves in whatever we do in life. Today there may not be villains and demons like Mahishasura and Ravan or Kumbhkaran, but there exist immoralities like jealousy, corruption and dishonesty. Let this day of Dussehra or Vijayadashami mark the start of new beginnings and the end of any evil and immoral traits.