Dussehra 2025: Date, Time, Story, Significance, and Celebrations of Vijayadashami

Dussehra,

also known as Vijayadashami, is one of the most loved Hindu festivals in India. It comes right after Navratri, a festival of nine days. People commemorate the triumph of good over evil on this day. Dussehra will be observed on Thursday, October 2, 2025. It always falls on the tenth day of the month of Ashwin or Kartik, though the exact date varies each year due to the Hindu calendar.

Dussehra 2025 Date and Time

Here are the important details for Dussehra in 2025:

Event/Detail	Date & Time	Duration
Vijayadashami	Thursday, October 2, 2025	—
Vijay Muhurat	02:09 PM to 02:56 PM	47 minutes
Bengal Vijayadashami	Thursday, October 2, 2025	—
Aparahna Puja Time	01:21 PM to 03:44 PM	2 hours 22 mins
Dashami Tithi Begins	07:01 PM on October 1, 2025	—
Dashami Tithi Ends	07:10 PM on October 2, 2025	—
Shravana Nakshatra Begins	09:13 AM on October 2, 2025	—
Shravana Nakshatra Ends	09:34 AM on October 3, 2025	—

This shows that the celebrations and prayers happen mostly in the afternoon.

Why Do We Celebrate Dussehra?

Dussehra is a happy festival that tells us how good wins over evil.Lord Rama’s Story: A long time ago, Lord Rama fought a bad king named Ravana. Ravana had ten heads and was very strong. But Rama, with the help of Lakshmana and Hanuman, defeated Ravana and saved Sita.Goddess Durga’s Story: In another story, a demon named Mahishasura was very cruel. Goddess Durga fought with him for many days. On the tenth day, she killed him and brought peace.That is why we celebrate Dussehra. It reminds us that truth and goodness always win, and evil never lasts.

What Does Dussehra Mean?

• Dasha, which means "ten," is one of the two Sanskrit words that give rise to the name Dussehra.
• "Defeat" is what hara means.

So, Dussehra means the defeat of the ten-headed demon Ravana.The word Vijayadashami has another meaning:

• Vijaya means “victory.”
• Dashami means “tenth day.”

So, Vijayadashami means “victory on the tenth day.”Therefore, "victory on the tenth day" is what Vijayadashami means.We can say that from both names that this festival is about good triumphing over evil.

How Do People Celebrate Dussehra?

Dussehra is celebrated in different ways in different parts of India.

• In North India, people perform Ram Leela, a drama that shows the story of Lord Rama. On Dussehra night, huge statues of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna, and his son Meghnad are burnt. This event is called Ravan Dahan. People cheer, enjoy fireworks, and eat delicious food.
• In West Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar, Dussehra is celebrated as the last day of Durga Puja. For nine days, beautiful idols of the goddess Durga are worshipped. The idols are carried in a large procession on the tenth day and subsequently thrown into rivers or the ocean. This is known as Visarjan, which translates to "goodbye to the goddess."
• In South India, people decorate their houses, worship books and tools, and celebrate with family and friends.

No matter how it is celebrated, the main idea is always the same—good wins, evil loses.

Why is Dussehra Important?

Dussehra is not just a festival. It is a lesson for all of us.It teaches us to always be kind, honest, and truthful. Even if bad things look very strong, in the end, goodness always wins.This festival also brings people together. Families and friends go to fairs, watch Ram Leela plays, enjoy fireworks, eat sweets, and celebrate with lots of joy.In 2025, Dussehra will be celebrated on Thursday, October 2. On this day, people across India will enjoy Ravan Dahan (burning Ravana’s statue), Durga Puja Visarjan, colorful fairs, and yummy food.No matter where or how it is celebrated, the meaning is the same everywhere: Truth always wins. Good always defeats evil.Dussehra also reminds us of the bravery of Lord Rama and the strength of Goddess Durga. It fills our hearts with joy, hope, and faith.So, Dussehra is not only about burning Ravana or worshipping the goddess. It is a festival of goodness, honesty, and light over darkness. It is a time to celebrate happiness, learning, and unity with love and devotion.