Saath Catalogue

Vijayadashami / Dussehra

Published 2026-07-15 · region: pan-Hindu · Saath Catalogue

Calendar timing

Oct (Lunar (Ashwin Shukla))

  • 2026 · 2026-10-19 (scholar-2026-06-23)

Stories & history

Rama’s victory over RavanaRamayana narrative

Dussehra or Vijayadashami celebrates Rama’s defeat of Ravana. Effigies of the ten-headed king are burned in Punjabi towns, dramatizing the destruction of arrogance, deceit and misused power.

Symbolism & meaning

Core symbolism
Dussehra symbolises the public rejection of oppressive traits and the affirmation of justice.
Meaning
Burning the effigy makes tangible the desire to uproot one’s own Ravana-like tendencies—anger, greed, manipulation—rather than only condemn villains in stories.
Significance
The festival prepares the ground for Diwali by clearing out symbolic enemies, helping communities imagine a fresh start.

Procedure

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Materials needed

  • Effigies of Ravana and others (usually community-organised)
  • Fireworks attached to effigies where permitted
  • Sound system or stage for Ramayana scenes
  • Prasad items such as sweets and fruits

Family participation

  • enjoy the spectacle and learn its moral. — Children and youth
  • explain symbolism and supervise crowd safety. — Parents
  • build effigies and organise the event. — Community volunteers
  • connect the story to local experiences of ethics and leadership. — Elders

From the Saath Catalogue — occasions documented for families, with regional tradition attribution.