Vijay Dashmi, or Dussehra, the festival of victory of good over evil, is celebrated on the tenth  day and a day after Navratri. While the bank holiday is on September 18, Vijay Dashmi actually falls on October 19. This has led to confusion over the exact date of the festival of Vijay Dashmi. Diwali- the festival of lights, is celebrated 20 days after the festival of Vijay Dashmi.

Navratri this year starts on October 10, and will continue till October 18. October 18 will be the last day of Navratri and October 19 will be the day of Dussehra or Vijay dashmi. Gandhi Emoji Launched by Twitter India Ahead of October 2 in Honour of Father of The Nation on Gandhi Jayanti 2018.

Vijay dashami, Dasara, Dusshera or Dussehra is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navratri every year. It is observed on the tenth day in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin, the seventh month of the Hindu Luni-Solar Calendar, which typically falls in the Gregorian months of September and October.

Vijay dasami is observed for various reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of not only India but also the Indian subcontinent. In the eastern and northeastern states of India, Vijay dashami marks the end of Durga Puja, remembering goddess Durga's victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura to help restore dharma. In the northern, southern and western states, the festival is synonymously called Dussehra (also spelled Dasara, Dashahara).

Vijay dashami celebrations include processions to a river or ocean front that carry clay statues of Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya, accompanied by music and chants, after which the images are immersed into the water for dissolution and a goodbye. Elsewhere, on Dasara, the towering effigies of Ravana symbolizing the evil are burnt with fireworks marking evil's destruction.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 01, 2018 09:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).