Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, is a pan-Indian festival that honours the victory of virtue and Dharma through two great narratives—Rama’s defeat of Ravana in the Ramayana and Durga’s triumph over the buffalo demon Mahishasura—concluding the nine sacred nights of Navratri with prayers, pageantry, and cultural performances. Across the country, communities gather for Ramlila dramas and the spectacular burning of towering Ravana effigies, while in the East, Durga Puja concludes with solemn immersion processions that symbolize the Goddess’s return to the celestial realm. Before the procession, married women celebrate “Sindoor Khela” —joyfully applying vermilion to the idol and to one another—invoking blessings of prosperity and shared sisterhood.  In the South and West, the day is marked by Ayudha Puja and Vidyarambham, rituals that consecrate tools, arts, and learning, reflecting gratitude and resolve for new beginnings. From Mysuru’s regal processions and classical arts to neighborhood melas filled with lights and fireworks, Dussehra unites diverse traditions in a shared message: truth, courage, and compassion ultimately prevail. Considered an auspicious time to start new ventures, the festival inspires ethical living, communal harmony, and eco-conscious celebrations, inviting reflection on removing inner negativities just as the effigies of evil are set alight.