Call it Dussehra, Vijaydashmi or Shubh Bijoy, the tenth day of the Navaratri is all about the victory of Good over Evil.
In the southern, eastern, and northeastern states of India, Vijayadashami marks the end of Durga Puja, remembering goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura to help restore good and remove the evil.
Vijayadashami is also known as ‘Dussehra’ in Northern parts of India is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year. It is rooted in the Indian epic of Ramayana, which tells the story of King Rama leaving his Kingdom to rescue his wife Sita, who had been kidnapped by the demon king Ravana. King Rama fights with the demon. He kills the Ravana on the tenth day and rescues his wife. Dussehra marks the victory of good over evil.
West Bengal on the other hand celebrates ‘Shubho Bijoya’. The celebration of Bijoya, literally meaning ‘victory’, begins right after the visarjan (immersion of the idol), with people hugging each other and distributing sweets. With the departure of Durga begins the auspicious period of ‘Bijoya’, in celebration of the victory of good over evil, which goes on till Diwali.
