Dussehra 2024: Date, Time, Puja Muhurat, Rituals and Significance of Vijayadashami

Dussehra is one of the major festivals of Hindus. This day is also known as Vijayadashami. This festival is celebrated across the country with great pomp and show across the country. This year, Dussehra or Vijayadashami is being celebrated on Dashami Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashwina i.e., on October 12, 2024.
Dussehra 2024: Date and Time
Dussehra 2024: Significance
Dussehra or Vijayadashami is a major festival, which is celebrated across the country with great splendor and enthusiasm. People celebrate this festival by following their own puja rituals, and traditions. This day marks the victory of good over evil and symbolizes the triumph of righteousness (dharma) over injustice (adharma). This was day, when Lord Rama killed the demon Ravana that's why it is popularly known as Vijayadashami. As the names suggests Dussehra which means Dus or 10 and Hara means defeat of Ravana.
Vijayadashami is the day when people commemorate the victory of Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, over the demon king Ravana. According to the epic Ramayana, Lord Rama fought a fierce battle with Ravana to rescue his wife, Sita, who had been abducted by Ravana. On this day, Effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna, and son Meghnath are burnt to symbolize the destruction of evil forces.
Why Lord Rama Killed Ravana?
According to the Hindu scriptures, Lord Rama killed the demon Ravana after fighting a battle for nine long days. Ravana abducted Goddess Sita and took her to Lanka, his kingdom. Lord Rama struggled a lot to find her and Lord Rama's ardent devotee Lord Hanuman found her in Lanka sitting inside Ashok Vatika. Lord Hanuman spoke to Mata Sita and showed her the ring of Lord Ram and made her realise that Lord Ram is finding her everywhere and one day he will come and defeat Ravana. Then, Lord Rama built a bridge from Rameshwaram to Lanka which is now Shri Lanka so finally on the day of Vijayadashami, Ram Ji defeated him and killed him.
Dussehra 2024: Puja Rituals
1. Wake up early in the morning and take a bath.
2. Clean the house and offer prayers to Lord Rama by lighting a diya in front of the idol.
3. Its a ritual to bring the cow dung and make an idol of Ravana along with Meghnad and Kumbhkaran.
4. Light a diya with desi ghee and offer Patasha (sweet).
5. Offer flowers and pray to Lord Rama to get rid of all the sins, which you might have committed knowingly or unknowingly.
7. People decorate their house and make rangoli with colours and flowers.
8. At the time of Gaudhuli, light 11 or 21, earthen diya and decorate your house with lights.
9. Children burn crackers on this day.