Marking the end of Navratri, Vijayadashami and Dussehra fall on the same day. Here's the correct date when Dussehra 2023 will be celebrated in India
The Hindu festival of Dussehra is observed on Shukla Paksha Dashmi during the month of Ashwin as per Hindu lunar calendar and a day after Maha Navami or at the end of Shardiya Navratri.
Navratri — the nine days of celebration of each form of Durga — culminates with Dussehra on the tenth day and it is also called as Vijayadashami, the day of victory and while some associate it with the epic battle of Ramayana, others do so to commemorate Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura.
It is said that it was on this day that Durga defeated Mahishasura after a
fierce battle lasting for more than nine days
and as per another mythology, Dussehra is also celebrated to mark the victory of
Rama over ten-headed demon king of
Lanka, Ravana.
According to
Drikpanchang, the festival of Dussehra or Vijayadashami will be celebrated this
year on Tuesday, October
24, 2023 with Vijay Muhurat from 01:58 pm to 02:43 pm, Aparahna puja time from
01:13 pm to 03:28 pm and Dashami Tithi
will begin from 05:44 pm on October 23, 2023 then it will end at 03:14 pm on
October 24, 2023.
The term Dussehra is more common in North Indian states and Karnataka while the term Vijayadashami is more popular in West Bengal. It denotes victory of good over evil and there are two stories that are associated with the festival in Hindu mythology.