Dussehra is the tenth and final day of Durga Puja in Bengal and the rest of East, Navratri in North and West India and ; culmination of Ramlila in some parts of India and Madikeri Dasara in many parts of Southern India. Also known as Vijayadashami, Dussehra, commemorates the victory of Lord Rama over the ten headed demon king Ravana.

The Durga Puja which Lord Rama performs is the ‘akalbodhon’ worship of Goddess Durga to seek her blessings in order to subdue king Ravana and rescue his wife, Sita from his clutches. It is the victorious day when Lord Rama and Laxmana are able to kill Ravana, Dussehra or Vijayadashami is celebrated. With this victory crown Lord Rama, Laxmana and Sita return to their kingdom Ayodhya. To be welcome their beloved king after 14 years of exile, the people of Ayodhya light lamps and celebrate Diwali.

Bengalis however celebrate this great day as Vijayadashami or the final or the tenth day of Durga Puja. It is the day when Bengalis bid farewell to the Goddess by immersing her in Ganges as she leaves for her heavenly abode Mount Kailash with her four children. Ritualistically ‘Bisarjan’ is done in the puja premises by the priest who performs Durga Puja for the four days. Married women in white and red saaries apply vermillion to the Goddess and feed her with sweets. Later they apply vermillion or ‘sindoor’ to their married friends and relatives and greet each other with good wishes. The beautifully crafted clay idols of Goddess Durga are then taken to nearby rivers amidst a cacophony of cheers and are immersed with heavy hearts.

In other parts of Southern, Eastern and Western India, Navratri culminates with Vijayadashami, celebrating the triumph of the good over the evil where the fearsome Goddess Durga vanquishes Mahishasura as Chamundeshwari or Mahishasura Mardini.

Associated with Dussehra is the legend of Shami tree found in our epic Mahabharata. The Pandavas who were on their 14 years of exile in the forests, were to spend another year in disguise.

They possessed many divine and distinctive weapons due to their skill as well as penance. Since the last year of exile was crucial and as they had to take great care in not being recognized they secretly kept their weapons in a Shami tree for a year. A year later they returned to the Shami tree and found their weapons intact. They offered prayers to the Shami tree as well as Goddess Durga, the presiding Goddess of strength and victory. The Pandavas fought valiantly in the battle and emerged victorious thus commemorating Vijayadashami.

This legend finds mention in the celebrations of Navratri in Mysore where people exchange Shami leaves and wish each other victory in their ventures. On the tenth day of navratri celebrations, goddess Chamundeshwari is worshipped and carried on a elephant mounted throne in a grand procession through out the city of Mysore, from the Mysore Palace to Banni(Shami) Mantapa(pavilion).
On the ninth day of Dasara in Karnataka, Ayudh Puja is held where the articles used in daily life are used such as computers, books, vehicles, kitchen tools etc.
Madikeri Dasara is celebrated in Southern India. It has a history of over 100years. Dasara starts of with Kargas from four Mariamma temples. There is a procession of ten Mantapas from ten temples on the night of Vijayadashami.