Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2008
Victory of Rama over Ravana; Shami and Aparajita worship on Ashvin Shukla Dashami.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)05:53
- Aparahna muhurat12:55 – 15:16
- Fasting window (tithi)05:31 → 2008-10-10 · 06:45
- Parana (tithi ends)06:452008-10-10
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 2008
- Makar Sankranti — 15 January 2008
- Vasant Panchami — 11 February 2008
- Maha Shivaratri — 6 March 2008
- Holika Dahan — 21 March 2008
- Holi — 22 March 2008
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 7 April 2008
- Ram Navami — 13 April 2008
- Akshaya Tritiya — 7 May 2008
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 4 July 2008
- Guru Purnima — 18 July 2008
- Nag Panchami — 6 August 2008
- Raksha Bandhan — 16 August 2008
- Krishna Janmashtami — 23 August 2008
- Hartalika Teej — 2 September 2008
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 3 September 2008
- Anant Chaturdashi — 14 September 2008
- Pitru Paksha begins — 16 September 2008
- Sharad Navratri begins — 30 September 2008
- Durga Ashtami — 7 October 2008
- Maha Navami — 8 October 2008
- Karwa Chauth — 17 October 2008
- Dhanteras — 26 October 2008
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 27 October 2008
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 28 October 2008
- Govardhan Puja — 29 October 2008
- Bhai Dooj — 31 October 2008
- Chhath Puja — 4 November 2008
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 13 November 2008
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 13 November 2008
- Hindu Festivals 2008 →