Navaratri and Vijaya Dasami were observed at all Ashrams and at some Branches and Prayer Groups. The sacred observance of Navaratri which began on Sunday, 11 October 2026, culminated in Vijaya Dasami on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. At Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills, the Vijaya Dasami programme commenced with Ganga Arati at 5.30pm, followed by Satsang. The Satsang programme comprised Kirtans, Bhajans and a reading on Vijaya Dasami from Hindu Fasts and Festivals, by Sri Swami Sivananda.
In the reading, Sri Swami explained that Durga Puja or Navaratri is one of Hinduism’s most sacred festivals, dedicated to the worship of the Divine Mother. Commencing on the first day of the bright half of Aswayuja (September–October), it culminates on the tenth day, celebrated as Vijaya Dasami or Dussera. The festival symbolises the triumph of good over evil, the victory of righteousness over unrighteousness, and the ultimate liberation of the soul through Divine Grace.
The Master explained that in Bengal, families reunite, communities gather, and beautifully crafted images of the Goddess are worshipped before being ceremonially immersed in water. The occasion is traditionally associated with Mother Durga’s annual visit to Her beloved mother, the wife of the King of the Himalayas. Her departure on the tenth day is marked by the tenderness of a mother bidding farewell to her daughter. This moving tradition reflects the profound love, devotion and emotional richness of the festival.
On an esoteric level, the spiritual significance of Navaratri is further illustrated through the Divine Mother’s nine-day battle against the demon Bhandasura, whom She ultimately destroys on Vijaya Dasami. Similarly, Lord Rama worshipped Mother Durga before confronting Ravana. The life of Lord Rama offers an enduring example of sterling character, righteousness and devotion. Even a small effort to follow His teachings can transform our lives, making them “more fragrant than the rose and more lustrous than gold!” Arjuna sought the Goddess’s blessings before the battle of Kurukshetra on Vijaya Dasami. These accounts affirm the power of Divine Grace in overcoming formidable challenges and restoring righteousness.
At Sivanandashram, Rishikesh, Vijaya Dasami is an especially auspicious occasion. Spiritual aspirants receive Mantra initiation and deserving seekers enter the holy order of Sannyas. Sacred scriptures, including the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, Ramayana and Srimad Bhagavatam, are recited. “On Vijaya Dasami, Kanya Puja is also performed. Nine girls below the age of ten are worshipped as the embodiments of the Divine Mother. They are fed sumptuously and, amongst other things, presented with new clothes”.
Yet the festival’s greatest significance lies in its inner spiritual message. Vijaya Dasami represents the triumph of divine knowledge over ignorance and the soul’s attainment of freedom while living in this world. The true celebration, therefore, demands sincere self-examination and the conquest of the ego, as is evident in, “Dussera can also be interpreted as "Dasa-Hara", which means the cutting of the ten heads of Ravana. So, let us resolve today to cut the ten heads - passion, pride, anger, greed, infatuation, lust, hatred, jealousy, selfishness and crookedness - of the demon ego, and thus justify the celebration of Dussera”. The Master reminds us that “We shall be celebrating Dussera rightly if we make honest efforts to destroy the demon of our ego, and radiate peace and love wherever we go”.
The festival concludes with a powerful call to spiritual action: Let us all resolve to become men of sterling and pure character. Let us resolve and act. It is not enough to participate in rituals only; we must embody the virtues they represent through compassion, humility, truthfulness and selfless service.
May the Divine Mother bless us all with the milk of Divine Wisdom, elevate us to the heights of spiritual splendour, and guide us toward the imperishable state of liberation and eternal spiritual freedom.
