Vijayadashami 2025: When is Dussehra This year? Check Date, Timings, Panchang Dashami Tithi & Vijay Muhurat

Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is one of the most important and vibrant festivals in the Hindu calendar. This year, it will be celebrated on Thursday, 2 October 2025. The festival has deep mythological and cultural meaning, as it symbolises the victory of good over evil. Dussehra marks the end of the nine-day Navaratri festival and the conclusion of Durga Puja celebrations.

Vijayadashami 2025: When is Dussehra This Year? Check Date, Time, Panchang Tithi, Vijay Muhurat

As per the Drik Panchang, the Dashami Tithi, the tenth day of the Ashwin lunar month, begins at 7:01 PM on October 1 and ends at 7:10 PM on October 2. The most auspicious times for performing rituals and celebrations include:

• Vijay Muhurat: 02:09 PM to 02:57 PM (Duration: 48 minutes)
• Aparahna Puja Time: 01:21 PM to 03:45 PM (Duration: 2 hours 24 minutes)
• Shravana Nakshatra Begins: 09:13 AM on October 2
• Shravana Nakshatra Ends: 09:34 AM on October 3

Dussehra 2025: Celebrations Across India

Dussehra is celebrated with great fervor and regional variations across the country:

Dussehra Celebration in Northern India: Grand Ramlila performances are staged in towns and cities, culminating in the burning of Ravana effigies. People gather in festive attire, and the skies light up with fireworks and cheers of "Jai Shri Ram."

Dasara Celebration in Southern India: In states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Dussehra (or Dasara) is celebrated by worshiping tools, instruments, and vehicles during Ayudha Puja. Mysuru Dasara is particularly famous for its royal procession and cultural grandeur.

Gujarat celebrates with Garba and Dandiya Raas throughout Navaratri, while in Maharashtra, people exchange 'Apta' leaves as a symbol of gold, wishing prosperity.

Durga Visarjan, Sindoor Khlea in West Bengal and Other States: In West Bengal, Dussehra marks Durga Visarjan, the immersion of the Durga idols. Women participate in the colorful Sindoor Khela, smearing each other with vermillion, while the air fills with the rhythm of traditional Dhunuchi dances and conch shells.

Significance of Vijaydasami: Know Story Behind The Celebration of Dussehra

According to the Ramayana, the festival commemorates Lord Rama's victory over the demon king Ravana, who had abducted Rama's wife, Sita. With the aid of his brother Lakshmana, the devoted Hanuman and the Vanar Sena (monkey army), Lord Rama waged a decisive battle in Lanka (Present Sri Lanka). On the tenth day, Rama killed Ravana, restoring dharma and symbolising the triumph of righteousness.

Lord Ram's Victory Over Ravana

To honor this victory, effigies of Ravana, along with his brothers Kumbhakarna and Meghnath, are ceremonially set ablaze across India. These grand Ramlila events attract large crowds and are seen as an opportunity to reflect on moral values and personal introspection.

Goddess Durga's Victory Over Demon Mahishasura

In the eastern part of the country, particularly in West Bengal, Assam, Odisha and parts of Bihar, the day marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. After nine days of intense battle, the goddess emerged victorious on the tenth day, symbolising the power of feminine divinity and the restoration of cosmic balance.