Patna: Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, will be celebrated this year on October 2, marking the triumph of good over evil in Hindu mythology. The festival falls on the tenth day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashvin and is one of the most significant days in the religious calendar.
Beyond the symbolic burning of Ravana effigies, worship of weapons and rituals at home, acts of charity play an important role in Dussehra traditions. Hindu belief holds that donations made on this day bring enduring blessings and prosperity, with anonymous giving regarded as the highest form of charity. Grains and clothes offered discreetly to the poor are thought to ensure the continued presence of the goddess Lakshmi in the household.
Astrological traditions also influence the day’s practices. Yellow, considered a colour of prosperity, is often associated with good fortune. Devotees believe that offering yellow sweets during Dussehra can remove obstacles and help resolve pending tasks.
Gifts for married women, such as bangles, bindis, henna, kajal and sarees, are also considered auspicious. Such offerings are believed to invite the blessings of goddesses Lakshmi and Durga, fostering harmony and wellbeing in married life.
