Tenth day victory; Goddess Durga defeats Mahishasura; arms worshipped

Vijayadashami, the Dashami of victory, completes Sharad Navratri and celebrates two great triumphs of dharma: Goddess Durga's slaying of the buffalo-demon Mahishasura after nine days of battle, and Lord Rama's defeat of Ravana. It is counted among the three and a half most auspicious days of the year (sade teen muhurat), when any good work may be begun without consulting a muhurat. In the aparahna, the Vijaya Muhurat, devotees perform Aparajita Puja — worship of the unconquerable Goddess, drawn in the north-east of the home — and Shami Puja, recalling how the Pandavas retrieved their weapons from the Shami tree after their exile, and Seemollanghan, symbolically crossing the village boundary to set out on new endeavours. In Maharashtra, apta leaves are exchanged as sona (gold). Children are initiated into learning in Vidyarambham, artists begin new work, and businesses open new accounts. In Bengal it is Bijoya Dashami, the farewell of the Goddess; in Karnataka it is Dasara; and for Buddhists it is Dhammachakra Pravartan Din. The day's lesson is that victory belongs to dharma, courage and devotion.

Those who fasted through Navratri break the fast today after Navami ends.