Navratri or Navratra is a Hindu festival of worship and dance. The word "Navratri" literally means nine nights; Nav-Nine and Ratri-nights. The festival is celebrated for nine nights every year at the beginning of October although as the dates of the festival are according to the Hindu calendar (which is based on the Moon), the festival may be held for a day more or a day less depending on the calendar. On the tenth day, an effigy of Ravana is burnt to celebrate the victory of good (Rama) over evil.   These nine days are divided and devoted to the Trinity of God worshipped in a female form - three days for Durga (Goddess of Valor) three days for Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) and three days for Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge and Art).

Vijayadashami

Vijayadashami, is a festival celebrated across India. The mode of celebration and the theme of celebration is diverse across the sub-continent. It is also celebrated as Dussera in few parts of India, as Navratri or Navaratri (Celebrations spanning upto nine days) in various other parts. The celebrations signify the victory of good over evil.

Vijaya Dashami - (The Tenth day of victory, Sanskrit) as the name signifies, the day is celebrated as the victory of good over evil, either on the victory of the Lord Rama over the asura (Demon) king Ravana in Lanka, or worshipping godessess Durga. It is said that the Pandavas, who returned from their exile of one year, worshipped godessess Durga on this day. It is celebrated on the tenth day of the Hindu month of Ashwin.

According to the Indian mythology, the Pandavas, after their exile in Drupada's Capital city panchala, for a year, came back to the 'shami' tree on the outskirts of the panchaala city* where they had hidden their precious weapons (#). They worshipped the shami tree which had protected their weapons for all that time, and worshipped godessess Durga who had blessed them with her protection for the weapons when they had come there to hide it. Meanwhile, the kauravas had attacked Panchala, Drupada's Capital with a huge army. The Pandavas took their weapons, made it straight to the battle from there and won the battle comprehensvely. Hence the day was since then known as 'Vijaya Dashami'.