In the eastern and northeastern states of India, Vijayadashami marks the end of Durga Puja, remembering goddess Durga's victory over demon Mahishasura.
In the northern, southern and western states, the festival is called Dussehra. In these regions, it marks the end of "Ramlila" and remembers lord Rama's victory over the demon Ravana.
Dussehra is the 10th day after Navratri (nine nights). It is celebrated as lord Rama's victory over Ravana. People celebrate the triumph of good over evil. In the legend, in Ramayana, lord Rama went to Srilanka to rescue his abducted wife Sita from the clutches of Ravana. Before the battle Rama prayed to Goddess Durga for 9 days to seek Goddess' blessings to kill Ravana. Eventually, on the 10th day, Rama killed Ravana, and that is why the 10th day is celebrated as Dussehra or Vijayadashmi.
Vijayadasami celebrations include processions to a river or ocean front that carry clay statues of Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya, accompanied by music and chants, after which the images are immersed into the water for dissolution and a goodbye. Elsewhere, on Dussehra, the effigies of Ravana symbolizing the evil are burnt with fireworks marking evil's destruction.
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