MUMBAI: The festival of Dussehra or Vijayadashami marked the end of Ashwin Navratra.This season Dashami ‘tithi’ spanned two days: Tuesday, October 20 and Wednesday, October 21. While north and west India celebrated on October 20, the eastern states performed the final rituals on October 21.Idols of Goddess Durga were led for visarjan. Yellow and orange marigold flowers, mango leaves and ritual kumkum beautified the landscape.Dussehra is among the three-amd-a-half important purchase mahurat of the Hindu almanac.On Tuesday, people arrived to take delivery of new vehicles or to buy gold or new household items.Kanaya Kakad of IBJA (India Bullion Jewellers Association) said, “Sales are rather slow in relation to the Dussehra mahurat. The gold rate has reduced, still customers are few. Whenever prices fall, people tend to hold back purchases, expecting rates to fall further.”“When rates are high in fact, customers flock to buy. Overall this Dussehra, sales are slow across various segments including automobiles and gold as compared to last year. Business has dropped by 4-5% as compared to Dussehra 2025,” Kakad added.Kakad further said, “Gold is projected to reach an all-time high by 2027, driven by sustained acquisition strategies from central banks on an annual basis.”Police and security forces worshipped their guns and ammunition, workmen garlanded the tools of their trade, and riders adorned and fed their horses special treats.Gold sales fared poorly at the auspicious purchase mahurat of Dussehra today, say jewellers associationsSouth Indian enclaves of Matunga, Sion and Dharavi came alive with Golu arrangements and hom-havan.In Matunga, Sri Sankara Mattham performed Kanya pujan and Suvasini pujan, and arranged the decoration of dolls called Golu upon the temple steps.Local resident KA Viswanathan said on Tuesday, students performed Vedic recitation which was followed by annadaan.Durga Puja pandals performed the Kumari Puja ritual.Eight-year-old Tiyaasha Mukherjee who lives in Dubai and studies in Gems Modern Academy there, flew down to Mumbai to lead the Kallol Kumari Puja in Goregaon.Her mother Nabanita said, “Our preparations started with putting ‘alta’ on her hands and feet and then we dressed her up like the goddess. For both of us and our families it was an overwhelming experience filled with love and warmth. It was so satisfying seeing my daughter experience these rituals in the same place where me, my sister, my nieces all had the opportunity to be Kumari before.”Some Durga Puja pandals perform the Kumari Puja ritual either on Ashtami or Navami.Nine-year-old Jewel Chakravarty became the Kumari at Bengal Club, Shivaji Park, on Navami.Her parents Rubel and Suchana said, “We had been practising how to drape the sari, ornaments and make-up with her since seven days because children are naturally not accustomed to it. We were happy to see that Jewel enjoyed the whole experience, and was most comfortable throughout the 30 minute ritual. She was worshipped like the goddess, fed choice delicacies and plied with gifts including chocolates, sari, purses, money and makeup.“Jewel was initially selected as Kumari during the Covid years but it did not materialize.The Chakravartys explained that it was Swami Vivekananda who had revived and linked the traditional Kumari Puja with Durga Puja in 1901 in order to empower women.Eight-year-old Tiyaasha Mukherjee who lives in Dubai flew down to Mumbai for the Kumari Puja of Kallol Durgotsav in Goregaon.Her mother Nabanita said, “Our preparations started with applying ‘alta’ on her hands and feet, and then we dressed her up like the goddess. For both of us it was an overwhelming experience with the added joy of sharing this moment with our families and friends. For me it was so satisfying to see my daughter experience these rituals in the same place where me, my sister, my nieces all had the opportunity to be Kumari in past years.“The Bengalis observed Vijayadashami or Bijoya on Wednesday with Sindoor Utsav. Their Durga idols will be led for visarjan by evening.
