Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2004
Victory of Rama over Ravana; Shami and Aparajita worship on Ashvin Shukla Dashami.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:00
- Aparahna muhurat12:50 – 15:07
- Fasting window (tithi)12:34 → 2004-10-23 · 11:01
- Parana (tithi ends)11:012004-10-23
Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.
Read the Dussehra / Vijayadashami puja vidhi, vrat rules and kathaDussehra / Vijayadashami — Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Dussehra considered auspicious without a muhurat?
Vijayadashami is one of the three and a half fully auspicious muhurtas of the year. Anything begun on it is held to need no separate timing, though the aparahna window is preferred for Aparajita puja.
What is ayudha puja?
The worship of one's tools, instruments, books and vehicles — whatever one earns or learns with. They are cleaned, garlanded and left unused for the day.
Why are shami leaves exchanged on Dussehra?
The Pandavas hid their weapons in a shami tree during their year of concealment and recovered them on this day. The leaves stand for weapons regained and a victory that follows patience.
Other major festivals in 2004
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2004
- Vasant Panchami — 26 January 2004
- Maha Shivaratri — 18 February 2004
- Holika Dahan — 6 March 2004
- Holi — 7 March 2004
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 21 March 2004
- Ram Navami — 30 March 2004
- Akshaya Tritiya — 22 April 2004
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 19 June 2004
- Guru Purnima — 2 July 2004
- Nag Panchami — 21 August 2004
- Raksha Bandhan — 30 August 2004
- Krishna Janmashtami — 6 September 2004
- Hartalika Teej — 17 September 2004
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 18 September 2004
- Anant Chaturdashi — 27 September 2004
- Pitru Paksha begins — 29 September 2004
- Sharad Navratri begins — 15 October 2004
- Durga Ashtami — 21 October 2004
- Maha Navami — 22 October 2004
- Karwa Chauth — 31 October 2004
- Dhanteras — 10 November 2004
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 11 November 2004
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 12 November 2004
- Govardhan Puja — 13 November 2004
- Bhai Dooj — 14 November 2004
- Chhath Puja — 17 November 2004
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 26 November 2004
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 26 November 2004
- Hindu Festivals 2004 →