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Vijayadashami / Dussehra

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

Calendar timing

Oct (Lunar (Ashwin Shukla))

  • 2026 · 2026-10-19 (working date, being reviewed)

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

  1. Attend or help organise effigy burning of Ravana, Meghnada and Kumbhakarna in the evening.
  2. Before the burning, watch short Ramayana scenes or hear a retelling of Rama’s victory.
  3. Join the crowd as the effigies are set alight, reflecting on personal habits to discard.
  4. Take prasad and return home, continuing with small family discussions about justice and restraint.
  5. Prepare for the upcoming Diwali by cleaning and planning visits.

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

Keep reading

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