Vijaya Daśamī 2006

Vijayadaśamī (literally the tenth of victory) falls on Āśvina Śukla Daśamī, the tenth day of the bright fortnight of Āśvina, immediately following the nine nights of Śarad Navarātri. It is simultaneously the celebration of Lord Rāma's defeat of Rāvaṇa, the celebration of Goddess Durgā's victory over Mahiṣāsura, and the single most auspicious day of the Hindu year for beginning anything new. Two great victories, two great stories, one supreme moment of dharmic triumph.

In North India, Vijayadaśamī is known as Daśaharā: literally the defeat (harā) of the ten-headed (daśa-śira) Rāvaṇa. Enormous effigies of Rāvaṇa, Kumbhakarṇa, and Meghanāda are erected at open grounds across cities. As sunset approaches, Rāma and his brothers arrive (usually played by local children or actors) in a procession, and Rāma shoots a flaming arrow into Rāvaṇa's effigy: the Rāvaṇa Dahana. The effigy bursts into fire and explosions, symbolising the destruction of ego, pride, and the ten-headed demon who had ten vices. The largest Rāvaṇa Dahana in India is at Rāmlīlā Maidān, Delhi, where effigies stand 70 metres tall.

In Karnataka, Mysore Dasarā, known as Nada Habba (State Festival), has been celebrated for over 400 years. For ten days the illuminated Mysore Palace draws hundreds of thousands of visitors. On Vijayadaśamī morning, a golden throne procession leaves the palace: a colourfully decorated elephant carries the goddess Cāmuṇḍeśvarī in a golden howdah, accompanied by caparisoned horses, decorated camels, folk performers, military bands, and thousands of marching soldiers. The procession is one of Asia's greatest ceremonial spectacles.