Dussehra Puja Vidhi 2026: Puja Samagri and Rituals

Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is an important Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. It is associated with Lord Rama's victory over Ravana and Goddess Durga's victory over Mahishasura. Devotees celebrate this day with prayers and rituals to seek blessings for success, happiness, and new beginnings.

The Dussehra puja vidhi varies across India, as different regions and families follow their own traditions. Some devotees worship Lord Rama or Goddess Durga, while others perform Shami Puja or Shastra Puja. If you want to know how to do Dussehra Puja at home, you can follow a simple home puja procedure and observe any additional rituals that are part of your family tradition.

Dussehra Puja Samagri

Before starting the puja, collect the required items so that everything is ready. For a simple Dussehra Puja at home, you may need:

• An idol or picture of Lord Rama, Goddess Durga, or your family deity

• A clean cloth and a wooden chowki

• Roli, haldi, akshat (uncooked rice), and sandalwood paste

• Fresh flowers and a garland

• A diya, ghee or oil, and cotton wicks

• Incense sticks and camphor

• A vessel of clean water

• Fruits and sweets for bhog

• A bell, if used in your usual puja

If you also plan to perform Shami Puja or Shastra Puja, keep Shami leaves or the tools and instruments you wish to worship ready. These additional items are not required for every household's Dussehra Puja.

How to Do Dussehra Puja at Home

You can perform a simple Dussehra Puja at home by worshipping your family deity and offering prayers for the well-being of your family. Follow these steps, keeping your regional and family traditions in mind.

1. Prepare the Puja Area

Clean the puja area and take a bath before beginning the worship. Wear clean clothes and place an idol or picture of the deity on a clean chowki. Arrange the puja samagri nearby so that you can perform the rituals without interruption.

2. Begin the Puja

Light a diya and incense sticks. Sit in front of the deity, fold your hands, and offer a prayer to begin the worship. You may first pray to Lord Ganesha, as is customary before many Hindu religious ceremonies.

3. Offer Prayers to the Deity

Apply a tilak to the deity's idol or picture, where appropriate, and offer flowers, akshat, and other customary offerings. Worship Lord Rama, Goddess Durga, or your family deity according to the tradition followed in your household. You do not need to worship every deity associated with Dussehra.

4. Offer Bhog and Recite Prayers

Offer fruits or sweets as bhog. Recite a prayer, mantra, or devotional hymn associated with the deity you are worshipping. Chant “Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram” if you are worshipping Lord Rama, or recite a prayer dedicated to Goddess Durga if you are worshipping her.

5. Perform Aarti and Distribute Prasad

Perform aarti and pray for the happiness and well-being of your family. Once the worship is complete, distribute the prasad among family members.

This completes a simple home puja. You may also perform Shami Puja, Shastra Puja, or Aparajita Puja if these are part of your regional or family tradition. They are separate observances, not compulsory steps for every household.

Shastra Puja Vidhi on Dussehra

Shastra Puja is a traditional Dussehra ritual in which people worship weapons such as swords, bows and arrows, and spears. It is associated with courage, protection, and the victory of good over evil. Some regional traditions also include the worship of tools and other items used in daily work.

Here is how you can perform Shastra Puja at home:

1. Clean the items: Clean the weapons, such as swords, bows and arrows, and spears, that you wish to worship. Place them on a clean surface and handle them carefully.

2. Apply a tilak: Apply roli or sandalwood paste to the items, where suitable.

3. Offer flowers and akshat: Place flowers and uncooked rice as offerings.

4. Light a diya safely: Light a diya nearby, keeping it at a safe distance from the weapons and any flammable materials.

5. Offer prayers: Pray for the safe and proper use of these items and for success in your work.

6. Conclude the ritual: Offer a final prayer according to your family tradition.

The day of observance may vary by region, and some families perform it during Navratri rather than on Vijayadashami itself.

Safety Rules During Shastra Puja

• Handle Weapons Carefully: Do not swing or point weapons at anyone during the puja.

• Keep a Safe Distance from Fire: Place diyas and incense sticks away from weapons and flammable materials.

• Protect Children: Keep weapons out of children's reach throughout the ritual.

• Avoid Sharp Edges: Offer tilak and flowers carefully without touching sharp edges.

• Store Weapons Properly: After the puja, return the weapons to a secure storage place.

Shami Puja on Vijayadashami

Shami Puja is observed by devotees who follow the tradition of worshipping the Shami tree on Dussehra. According to a well-known Hindu tradition, the Pandavas hid their weapons in a Shami tree during their period of exile and recovered them later. The tree is therefore associated with victory and is worshipped by some devotees on Vijayadashami.

How to Perform Shami Puja:

1. Visit a Shami tree or arrange a Shami plant at home if you follow this custom.

2. Offer water at the base of the tree.

3. Apply a small tilak and offer flowers and akshat.

4. Light a diya at a safe distance from the tree.

5. Pray for success and the strength to overcome difficulties.

6. If customary in your region, exchange Shami leaves with family members and friends as a symbol of good wishes.

In Maharashtra, people commonly exchange Apta leaves during Dussehra as symbolic gold. The customs and the leaves used vary by region, so you can follow the practice observed in your family.

Aparajita Puja Vidhi

Aparajita Puja is a traditional ritual performed by some devotees on Vijayadashami to seek the blessings of Goddess Aparajita, who is associated with victory. The puja is traditionally performed during the Aparahna period on Dussehra.

You can follow these steps to understand the basic Aparajita Puja Vidhi:

1. Prepare the Puja Area: Clean the place where you plan to perform the puja and arrange the required samagri.

2. Draw an Eight-Petalled Lotus: Draw an eight-petalled lotus on the ground using rice flour or another material prescribed by your tradition.

3. Invoke Goddess Aparajita: Offer a prayer to the Goddess and begin the worship according to your family tradition.

4. Make the Offerings: Offer flowers, roli, and akshat to the Goddess.

5. Recite Prayers: Chant a prayer or strotam dedicated to Goddess Aparajita and seek her blessings for victory and success.

6. Conclude the Puja: Offer your final prayers and seek the strength to overcome difficulties.

The exact procedure and timing may vary by region and tradition. Aparajita Puja is not observed by every household, so follow the customs practised in your family.

Dussehra Celebrations in Different Parts of India

Region	How Dussehra Is Celebrated
North India	Ravana Dahan is performed by burning effigies of Ravana, Meghnad, and Kumbhakarna to mark the victory of good over evil.
Kolkata and West Bengal	Durga Puja celebrations conclude with Vijayadashami rituals, including the immersion of Goddess Durga’s idols.
Mysuru, Karnataka	The Mysuru Dasara festival features royal processions, cultural programmes, and traditional celebrations.
Kullu, Himachal Pradesh	Kullu Dussehra is marked by processions of local deities and large religious gatherings.

Conclusion

Dussehra is an occasion to celebrate the victory of good over evil and look forward to new beginnings. You can observe Dussehra Puja at home by worshipping your family deity and following the customs that are meaningful to your household. Additional rituals such as Shami Puja, Shastra Puja, and Aparajita Puja may also be observed according to regional traditions. Understanding these differences helps you celebrate Vijayadashami with devotion without feeling that every ritual is compulsory.