Vijayadashami is the day after Navaratri, the tenth of the waxing Moon, when the goddess is victorious. In Tamil Nadu it is the most auspicious day of the year to begin learning anything. Small children are taken to a temple or a teacher for Vidyarambham and write their first letter in a tray of rice. Music and dance classes take new students, and yesterday's books are opened again.
The story
On the tenth day Durga killed Mahishasura, and Rama, Ravana. What is begun on the day of a victory is expected to succeed.
The golu is closed tonight. One doll is laid on its side to show that the display is asleep until next year, and the following morning the dolls are wrapped in old cloth and put away.
How the day goes
- VidyarambhamThe child, on a parent's lap, is guided to write "Om" or the first Tamil letter in raw rice.
- Taking up the booksThe books left before Saraswati are taken back and a page is read.
- New classesStudents of music, dance and the arts begin, or offer guru dakshina and learn a new piece.
- Putting the golu to bedAfter the evening arati.
- Ambu poduthalIn many temples the goddess rides out and shoots an arrow at a banana tree or vanni tree standing for the demon.
Why this date
Vijayadashami is the Dashami of the bright fortnight of Ashvina, on the day it prevails in the afternoon.
Vijayadashami in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday | |
| 2027 | Saturday | |
| 2028 | Wednesday | |
| 2029 | Tuesday | |
| 2030 | Sunday | |
| 2031 | Saturday |
More Tamil festivals
9 OctoberSaraswati Puja and Ayudha Pujaசரஸ்வதி பூஜை · ஆயுத பூஜை
7 OctoberDurga Ashtamiதுர்காஷ்டமி
28 OctoberDeepavaliதீபாவளி
4 NovemberSkanda Sashtiகந்த சஷ்டி
4 SeptemberVinayagar Chaturthiவிநாயகர் சதுர்த்தி
4 DecemberSubrahmanya Sashtiசுப்ரமண்ய சஷ்டி
Where to see Vijayadashami
In Tamil Nadu
- KulasekarapattinamTamil NaduThe night of Soorasamharam on the beach, the climax of the costumed Dasara of the far south.
- Saraswati Temple, KoothanurTamil NaduQueues of parents with small children for Vidyarambham.
- Kalakshetra, ChennaiTamil NaduThe dance and music academy, like every school of the arts in the city, takes in new pupils today.
Across India
- MysuruKarnatakaThe Jamboo Savari, the procession of elephants from the palace.
- ThiruvananthapuramKeralaVidyarambham across Kerala, at temples and at the homes of writers.
- KulluHimachal PradeshThe valley's week-long Dussehra opens.