Happy Vijaya Dasami!

Maata Cha Paarvati Devi
Pitaa Devo Maheshvara
Baandhavah Shiva Bhaktaacha
Svadesho Bhuvanatrayam

The mother is Parvati and the divine father is Shiva. The devotees are the relatives. The land we are living on is the whole world.

Rama destroyed Ravana on this day and hence it is celebrated as the day of victory. Rama invoked the blessings of the divine mother, Goddess Durga, before actually going out to battle. During these 10 days, the goddesses Lakshmi(Goddess of wealth and prosperity), Saraswati(Goddess of learning and arts) and Shakti (Durga) are worshipped. Lalitha Sahasranama Parayanam is also widely done on all these 9 days. And some people eat only one meal a day( okka poddu ).

People arrange dolls (Bommala Koluvu) on artificially constructed steps and prepare an elaborate spread of lamps and flowers. After the Saraswati pooja on the ninth day, the whole set up is taken down on Vijayadashmi. It is an auspicious occasion for children to commence their education in classical dance and music, and to pay homage to their teachers. On Vijaya Dasami, back home we do the Ayudha Pooja, doing pooja for the goddess and also all the vehicles and machines. We would even go to Jammi Chettu( Shami Tree ) and exchange Shami leaves and wish each other victory in their own ventures and efforts.

Ya Kundendu Tushaara Haara Dhavalaa
Ya Shubhra Vastraavrita
Ya Veena Vara Danda Manditakara
Ya Shveta Padmaasana
Ya Brahma Achyutaha Shankara Prabrithibhih
Devai Sadaa Poojitha
Saa Maam Paatu Sarasvathi Bhagavati
Nishyesha Jyaadyaapaha

Oh Goddess Sarasvathi, who is fair as a jasmine flower, the moon or a snow flake, who is dressed in white and whose hands are adorned by veena, who is seated in a white lotus, to whom Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara pray, please protect us.

Tags:Dusshera, Vijaya Dasami, Vijayadasami