The word Dussehra comes from the word `Dus` meaning `Ten` and `Hara`, meaning `annihilated`. Dussehra is the day when the ten facets of evil were destroyed. It is celebrated on the tenth day, after the new moon in the month of Ashwina and this festival is also called the Vijayadashmi. There is also a legend behind the celebration of Dussehra. This day is a celebration of the victory of Lord Rama when he rescued his wife, Sita and destroyed Ravana, in a fierce battle. It is believed that Ravana had ten faces. The ten faces likely represent the ten evil facets of his character. On this day, massive effigies of Ravana, his younger brother Kumbhakarna and son Meghanatha are built and packed with crackers. They are set on fire in the evening.

In Bengal, this day is celebrated as the day on which Durga Ma killed the terrible demon Mahishasur. On this day, all the gods in heaven and all human beings on earth worship Goddess Durga. In Kullu, Himachal Pradesh Dussehra is celebrated three days later. The reason for this goes back to the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the ruler of Punjab. The hill states of Punjab, now in Himachal Pradesh, were under the court at Lahore. The Maharaja expected all the less powerful kings to be present at his court during the Dussehra celebrations. After the celebrations at Lahore, the rulers would speed back to their hill kingdoms to celebrate Dussehra there. It took them three days to reach their states. Since then, the custom has continued.

The fundamental nature of the festival is the same and it is celebrated all over India as a symbol of victory over the evil. Thus, at some places, instead of the three effigies, five animals - a cock, a fish, a lamb, a crab and a buffalo - are sacrificed and pile of wood is burnt seven days later to symbolize the victory of good over evil. In Karnataka, they place lemons on the road in front of the wheels of cars, buses, scooters, and drive their vehicles over them, since it symbolizes sacrifice.

On this day, weapons are also worshipped. Mother Goddess is being worshipped during the Navratras (nine day celebrations coming before Dussehra) and she is the epitome of `Fight against Evil`. It is believed, that one worships weapons, to remember to use them in a wise manner. Here, the people also exchange leaves of Apta tree. There is also a legend associated to this tradition. King Raghu, one of Sri Rama`s ancestor, was very generous. After a great `Yagna` (sacrificial fire) the king distributed all his wealth among the poor. A poor boy came to him asking for alms. Raghu had nothing left to give the poor boy; hence he attacked Kuber, the God of Wealth. When he did that, then gold rained on earth and some of it fell on the Apta tree. Since then, people exchange leaves of the Apta tree on Dussehra day.