Importance of Vijaya Dasami

The Navaratri otherwise called Navadurga resembling the nine fierce manifestations of the warrior Goddess are worshipped over the first nine nights of the waxing moon of Ashiwn as she battles the buffalo-demon Mahisa. On the ninth night, in the avatar of Durga, She triumphs over the demon and on the tenth day is celebrated as Vijaya Dasami. She celebrates Her victory before returning to Her abode.

In Bengal, Durga is seen as a manifestation of Parvati, Shiva’s consort. On the sixth day, She visits her father’s house with Her daughters, Lakshmi and Saraswti and Her sons Ganesh and Kartikeya. On the tenth day she returns to Her husband’s house. In Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, three of these nights are dedicated to Saraswti, the Goddess of knowledge, three to Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and three to Shakti, the goddess of power.

The Goddess is worshipped either in the form of idols as in East India or in the form of a sacred pot, the purna-kumbha. The sacred pot is set up by women on the first night. This ceremony is known as Ghata Sthapana. In Gujarat, women carry these sacred ports on their head, place it in the centre of the count yard and dance round it singing grba of the divine womb that extol the glory of the Goddess.

On Dassera, people worship the tools of their trade in the hope that Devi empowers them with Her grace. Mahanavami falls on 22nd October and Vijaya Dasami on October 23.

May Goddess Durga shower Her blessing on you all.