Dasara is the tenth day of the bright half of Ashwin and one of the sade-teen muhurta of the Marathi year. In the evening people cross the boundary of the village or town, the Simollanghan, worship the shami or apta tree, and bring back its leaves to exchange as "gold" with the words "Sone ghya, sonyasarkhe raha". Doorways are hung with marigold and mango-leaf torans, and new things are bought and begun.
The story
The story of the leaves is of Kautsa, a poor student who needed fourteen crore gold coins to pay his teacher. He asked King Raghu, who had just given away everything; Raghu prepared to attack Kubera, and Kubera rained gold on the apta and shami trees outside Ayodhya. Kautsa took only what he owed, and the rest was shared out to the people.
For the Marathas the day opened the season of campaigns; the crossing of the boundary was the army marching out.
दसरा सण मोठा, नाही आनंदा तोटा
Dasara is the great festival: there is no shortage of joy
A Marathi saying
How it is kept
- ToranGarlands of marigold and mango leaves on every door, vehicle and shop.
- Saraswati pujanChildren draw the goddess on their slates as a pattern of the figure one, and worship their books.
- SimollanghanThe ritual crossing of the town boundary in the evening.
- SoneApta leaves are given to elders and friends as gold.
- BuyingVehicles, gold and houses are bought; it is the best day of the year for dealers.
Why this date
Dasara is the Dashami of the bright half of Ashwin, on the day it prevails in the afternoon.
Dasara in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday | |
| 2027 | Saturday | |
| 2028 | Wednesday | |
| 2029 | Tuesday | |
| 2030 | Sunday | |
| 2031 | Saturday |
More Marathi festivals
8 OctoberKhande Navamiखंडेनवमी
7 OctoberDurga Ashtamiदुर्गाष्टमी
29 OctoberDiwaliदिवाळी
28 OctoberNarak Chaturdashiनरक चतुर्दशी
3 SeptemberGanesh Chaturthiगणेश चतुर्थी
14 NovemberTripurari Purnimaत्रिपुरारी पौर्णिमा
Where to see Dasara
In Maharashtra
- KolhapurMaharashtraThe royal Dasara: the Chhatrapati rides in procession to Dasara Chowk for the Simollanghan.
- Deekshabhoomi, NagpurMaharashtraWhere Dr Ambedkar embraced Buddhism on Dasara 1956; lakhs gather each year for Dhammachakra Pravartan Din.
- ShirdiMaharashtraThe anniversary of Sai Baba's passing, on Dasara 1918.
- JejuriMaharashtraKhandoba's Dasara, with the sword-lifting and clouds of turmeric.
Across India
- MysuruKarnatakaThe Jamboo Savari, a procession of caparisoned elephants.
- KulluHimachal PradeshThe valley's festival begins today.
- DelhiDelhiThe burning of Ravana at the Ramlila grounds.