Vijayadashami
History & Mythology
Vijayadashami—the tenth day of victory—commemorates two great triumphs of dharma that fall on the same day of the lunar calendar:
On this Dashami, as the Sharad Navaratri reached its climax, Goddess Durga slew the demon Mahishasura on the tenth day, ending his long reign of terror and restoring the three worlds to the gods. The ten days of Durga Puja culminate in the immersion of Durga's idol in rivers—the goddess returning to her mountain home—accompanied by heartfelt farewells.
Simultaneously, Lord Rama—driven to the edge of exhaustion by Ravana's sorcery—performed a worship of the nine forms of Durga to gain divine strength, blessed by the Devi, he killed the ten-headed demon king Ravana on this very tenth day, rescuing Sita and ending an age of adharma. The burning of massive effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghanada—set alight by Rama's blazing arrow during Ramleela performances held across India—is the defining spectacle of Vijayadashami.
In South India, Ayudha Puja is observed: farmers worship their ploughs, craftsmen their tools, soldiers their weapons, and modern citizens garland their vehicles and computers—a reminder that the means of one's livelihood are sacred instruments deserving respect.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Hindu festival dates calculated?
Hindu festival dates are calculated using the Panchang — the Vedic almanac based on Tithi (lunar day), Nakshatra (Moon's asterism), and other astronomical factors. Most festivals fall on specific Tithis in particular lunar months. AstroJanamPatrika calculates these using Swiss Ephemeris, making dates accurate to the minute rather than relying on pre-printed almanacs.
What is Tithi in the Hindu calendar?
Tithi is the lunar day in the Hindu calendar, determined by the angular distance between the Moon and Sun in multiples of 12°. There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month — 15 in the waxing phase (Shukla Paksha) and 15 in the waning phase (Krishna Paksha). Most Hindu festivals are tied to specific Tithis, which is why their Gregorian calendar dates change each year.
Why do Hindu festival dates change every year?
Hindu festivals follow the lunisolar calendar, not the Gregorian solar calendar. Because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, festivals drift earlier each year — and an intercalary month (Adhika Masa) is added roughly every 2–3 years to realign the calendar with the solar year. This is why Diwali, Navratri, and other festivals fall on different Gregorian dates each year.
What is Shubh Muhurta for festival rituals?
Shubh Muhurta is the auspicious time window for performing festival rituals, determined by combining Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Vara, and Choghadiya. AstroJanamPatrika calculates the precise muhurta for each festival based on local sunrise, Tithi end times, and auspicious Nakshatras.
What is Purnima and Amavasya?
Purnima is the full moon day (15th Tithi of Shukla Paksha) when Moon and Sun are 180° apart. Amavasya is the new moon day when they are conjunct. Both are highly significant in the Hindu calendar — Purnima for celebrations and Amavasya for ancestor rituals (Pitru Tarpan). Festivals like Holi, Guru Purnima, and Sharad Purnima all fall on Purnima.