Ramacandra Vijayotsava
Appearance Day of Sri Madhvacarya
Festival
All day
What is Ramacandra Vijayotsava?
Ramacandra Vijayotsava is the festival of victory of Lord Ramacandra over Ravana, the ten-headed king who kidnapped Mother Sita. It is celebrated on the tenth day, Vijayadashami. In 2026 it falls on Wednesday, 21 October, which is also the appearance day of Sri Madhvacarya.
Significance
Lord Ramacandra is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appeared as a perfect king. In the Bhagavad-gita Lord Krishna says that He appears to deliver the pious and annihilate the miscreants. Srila Prabhupada writes that the Lord has many agents able to vanquish demons, but He especially descends to please His unalloyed devotees. The victory over Ravana shows that power gained through austerity but misused for evil does not last, and that the Lord protects those who depend on Him.
To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.
Bhagavad-gita 4.8
How to observe it
Devotees hear the story of Lord Ramacandra and chant the holy names of Krishna, including the name Rama in the maha-mantra. In many places effigies of Ravana are burnt on this day. The practice reminds people to burn the evil within themselves, a lesson Ravana's own fall makes plain.
Read more: Dussehra: Date, History, Significance & Celebrations
Questions
When is Ramacandra Vijayotsava in 2026?
Ramacandra Vijayotsava is on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. It is the same day as the appearance day of Sri Madhvacarya.
What does Ramacandra Vijayotsava celebrate?
It celebrates the victory of Lord Ramacandra over the demon king Ravana. The name means festival of victory, and it is observed on Vijayadashami, the tenth day.
Is Ramacandra Vijayotsava the same as Dussehra?
Yes. Ramacandra Vijayotsava is the Vaishnava name for the Vijayadashami festival, also called Dussehra, which marks Lord Ramacandra's triumph over Ravana.
Why are effigies of Ravana burnt?
The burning of Ravana's effigies is symbolic. People are asked to burn the evil within themselves, bearing in mind that Ravana was destroyed for misusing the powers he had gained.
Reviewed by ISKCON Kurukshetra · Updated
Key facts
- Date
- Wednesday, 21 October 2026
- Also on this day
- Appearance Day of Sri Madhvacarya
- Name means
- Festival of victory of Lord Ramacandra
Seva for this day
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