Dashami

Dashami is a term used in the Hindu lunar calendar to denote the tenth day of a lunar fortnight. The name comes from Sanskrit dasa, meaning ten. In each lunar month there are two Dashami days: Shukla Paksha Dashami (the tenth day of the waxing phase) and Krishna Paksha Dashami (the tenth day of the waning phase).

Culturally, Dashami is associated with several observances and celebrations. The most widely known is Vijayadashami, or Dussehra, the tenth day of the Navaratri festival. It marks the culmination of the festival and, in many traditions, commemorates the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. In other traditions, the day marks the triumph of Rama over Ravana. Vijayadashami is celebrated with temple rituals, processions, and cultural events, and in many places the Durga idols are immersed in rivers or other waters on this day, signaling the end of Durga Puja.

In Bengal and parts of eastern India, Dashami is the concluding day of Durga Puja and is often called Bijoy Dashami. The immersion ceremony (Visarjan) of Durga idols is a central ritual on this day. In Nepal, Vijaya Dashami corresponds to the main day of the Dashain festival; families perform the tika ceremony and give blessings to younger relatives, commonly accompanied by the exchange of gifts and the display of sacred offerings.

Beyond these regional observances, Dashami simply refers to the tenth tithi in any lunar fortnight and may be observed with local fasting, prayers, or rituals according to customary practices.