Dasahara, or Bijaya Dashami, is the tenth day, when the goddess goes home. In Cuttack the images are taken in one great procession, the Bhasani Jatra, to the bank of the Kathajodi; it lasts through the night and into the next day. People embrace and greet one another, vehicles and tools are worshipped, and in many towns an effigy of Ravana is burned, the Ravana Podi.
The story
The day is the victory of the goddess over the buffalo demon and of Rama over Ravana. The older Odia name, Dasahara, is read as the removal of ten kinds of sin.
It was also the day on which the Gajapati kings set out on campaign. The warrior dance of the Paikas, the old militia of Odisha, is still performed, and weapons are worshipped.
How it is kept
- Aparajita pujaThe worship of the undefeated goddess, in the afternoon.
- BhasaniThe immersion procession.
- Ravana PodiThe burning of Ravana's effigy at dusk.
- Bijaya greetingsElders are saluted and sweets shared.
- Astra pujaWeapons, tools and vehicles are worshipped.
Why this date
Dasahara is the Dashami of the bright fortnight of Ashwina, on the day it prevails in the afternoon.
Dasahara in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday | |
| 2027 | Saturday | |
| 2028 | Wednesday | |
| 2029 | Tuesday | |
| 2030 | Sunday | |
| 2031 | Saturday |
More Odia festivals
8 OctoberMaha Navamiମହାନବମୀ
7 OctoberMahastamiମହାଷ୍ଟମୀ
29 OctoberDiwaliଦୀପାବଳି
14 NovemberKartika Purnima and Boita Bandanaକାର୍ତ୍ତିକ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା · ବୋଇତ ବନ୍ଦାଣ
5 SeptemberNuakhaiନୂଆଖାଇ
4 SeptemberGanesh Pujaଗଣେଶ ପୂଜା
Where to see Dasahara
In Odisha
- Kathajodi riverbank, CuttackOdishaThe Bhasani Jatra, with each puja committee bringing its goddess behind a band.
- JeyporeOdishaThe old Dasahara of the Koraput kings, when tribal chiefs bring their lathis, staffs of office, to the palace.
- BhubaneswarOdishaRavana Podi on the city's exhibition grounds.
Across India
- BastarChhattisgarhJust over the border, the seventy-five-day Dussehra of the goddess Danteshwari.
- KolkataWest BengalSindoor Khela and the immersions on the Hooghly.
- MysuruKarnatakaThe Jamboo Savari, a procession of caparisoned elephants.