27 September (Tuesday) to 2 October (Sunday) NAVARATRI Hindu
4 October (Monday) DURGA PUJA Hindu
October DASSEHRA / VIJAYA DASHAMIPUJA Hindu
Navaratri means ‘nine nights’, which is how long the festival lasts. In Northern India the performance of the Ram Lila during Navaratri commemorates Rama’s victory over Ravana, the demon king of Sri Lanka. The day after the end of Navaratri is celebrated as the ‘victorious tenth’ (Vijaya Dashami) and huge figures of Ravana are filled with fireworks and burned on Ram Lila grounds (public areas). Some temple congregations carry this out on a smaller scale. Some temples the goddess Durga is worshipped on the eighth day. Panjabis mark the day by giving food and other items to young girls.