Dussehra 2024 Rituals: Celebration on 12 October in Ravi Yoga and Sarvarth Siddhi Yoga with Aparajita Puja, Durga Visarjan, and Ravana Dahan

Dussehra 2024 Pooja Vidhi: Auspicious Celebrations in Ravi Yoga and Sarvarth Siddhi Yoga

Dussehra, one of the most significant festivals in Hindu culture, will be celebrated this year on 12 October 2024. This day marks the conclusion of the nine-day Navratri festival and is filled with spiritual rituals, vibrant celebrations, and symbolic events that highlight the triumph of good over evil. What makes Dussehra 2024 particularly special is that it falls under the auspicious Ravi Yoga and Sarvarth Siddhi Yoga, adding to the spiritual energy of the day. On this sacred occasion, devotees perform key rituals like Aparajita Puja, Durga Visarjan, Navratri Parana, and the symbolic Ravana Dahan during the designated muhurat.

1. Significance of Dussehra 2024

• Victory of Good Over Evil
  Dussehra celebrates Lord Rama’s victory over the demon king Ravana, symbolizing the defeat of evil forces. This day is also observed as a mark of the conclusion of Goddess Durga’s battle against the buffalo demon Mahishasura. The significance of Dussehra lies in reinforcing the values of righteousness, courage, and justice.

• End of Navratri and Durga Visarjan
  Dussehra also marks the end of the Navratri festival, during which devotees worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga. After nine days of devotion, the idol of the goddess is immersed in water (Durga Visarjan), symbolizing her return to the divine realm after blessing her devotees.

2. Importance of Ravi Yoga and Sarvarth Siddhi Yoga

• Ravi Yoga’s Influence on Dussehra
  Ravi Yoga is an extremely favorable planetary combination that is believed to eliminate any negative influences. Performing rituals during Ravi Yoga ensures maximum positive results and success in one's endeavors. On 12 October 2024, Ravi Yoga will add a powerful spiritual energy to the Dussehra celebrations, making it the perfect time for important religious rituals like Aparajita Puja and Ravana Dahan.

• Sarvarth Siddhi Yoga
  Sarvarth Siddhi Yoga is considered to be one of the most beneficial and auspicious yogas for undertaking any new ventures or important activities. Any task performed under this yoga is believed to yield fruitful and successful outcomes. With Sarvarth Siddhi Yoga aligning with Dussehra 2024, it enhances the significance of the day for spiritual activities and pujas, amplifying the blessings for those who participate in the rituals.

3. Key Rituals to Perform on Dussehra 2024

• Aparajita Puja
  Aparajita Puja is performed to honor the victorious form of Goddess Aparajita, symbolizing invincibility and the conquest of evil. This puja is particularly important on Dussehra as it invokes the goddess’s blessings for strength and victory in personal and spiritual battles. During this ritual, devotees worship the Aparajita tree, tie sacred threads around it, and seek blessings for prosperity and success.

• Durga Visarjan (Immersion of Goddess Durga’s Idol)
  Durga Visarjan marks the conclusion of the Navratri festival. After nine days of intense devotion and prayers to Goddess Durga, her idol is immersed in a water body, symbolizing her departure from the earthly realm. This ritual represents the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, and it is believed that the goddess returns to bless her devotees again in the future. Performing Durga Visarjan during Ravi Yoga ensures the return of positive energy and divine blessings.

• Navratri Parana (Breaking the Navratri Fast)
  Navratri Parana is the ritual of breaking the nine-day fast observed during Navratri. On Dussehra, after the pujas are completed, devotees consume satvik food to mark the end of their fast. Breaking the fast in the right muhurat, especially during Ravi Yoga, is said to bring good health, prosperity, and happiness.

• Ravana Dahan (Burning of Ravana’s Effigy)
  The highlight of Dussehra is the burning of Ravana’s effigy, also known as Ravana Dahan. This symbolic ritual signifies the destruction of evil and the victory of good. Massive effigies of Ravana, along with his brothers Kumbhakarna and Meghnada, are set on fire as a part of the festivities. The burning of these effigies marks the end of Ravana’s evil reign and is a moment of celebration for people as they chant prayers and witness the flames engulf the effigies.

4. Auspicious Muhurat for Dussehra 2024 Pooja Vidhi

• Aparajita Puja Muhurat
  The most auspicious time to perform Aparajita Puja on Dussehra is during the Aparahna time (afternoon). The exact timing for Aparahna on 12 October 2024 will be from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Performing the puja during this period ensures maximum blessings and the favor of the goddess.

• Durga Visarjan Muhurat
  The immersion of Goddess Durga’s idol should ideally take place before sunset. The best time for Durga Visarjan is between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Immersing the idol during Ravi Yoga ensures that devotees receive the goddess’s blessings as she departs.

• Ravana Dahan Muhurat
  Ravana Dahan is traditionally performed in the evening, after sunset. For Dussehra 2024, the ideal time for Ravana Dahan will be between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM, ensuring that the ritual is completed during an auspicious time, amplifying the positive effects of the ceremony.

5. Celebrating Dussehra: A Festival of Unity and Joy

• Cultural Significance
  Dussehra is celebrated across India with great enthusiasm, albeit with regional variations. In northern India, the festival is marked by large-scale Ram Lila performances and the dramatic burning of Ravana’s effigies. In western India, especially in Gujarat, Dussehra is celebrated with Garba and Dandiya dance forms. Southern India also celebrates Dussehra with grand processions and temple festivals, showcasing the diversity of Indian culture.

• Messages of Victory and Righteousness
  The underlying message of Dussehra is the victory of righteousness and dharma (moral duty) over adharma (immorality). By performing the Dussehra rituals with devotion, people seek to reinforce these values in their own lives, hoping to rid themselves of inner evils and obstacles. The festival serves as a reminder that no matter how powerful evil may seem, it will ultimately be defeated by the forces of good.

6. The Spiritual Takeaway of Dussehra 2024

Dussehra 2024, celebrated in the presence of Ravi Yoga and Sarvarth Siddhi Yoga, offers a rare spiritual opportunity for devotees. The alignment of these yogas amplifies the power of rituals, making it an ideal time for Aparajita Puja, Durga Visarjan, Navratri Parana, and Ravana Dahan. This festival is not just a cultural celebration, but a spiritual one, offering a chance for people to overcome personal battles, eliminate negative forces, and embrace positivity and righteousness.