Dasarai is an occasion for cultural programmes like pujas,music and dance.Every moment of the day is auspicious to start any new project(Muhurat).This festival is celebrated throughout India as a sign of triumphant victory of good over evil.On this day, Lord Ram killed the great demon King Ravan. 

The word Dassera comes from the word Dus- which means ten and Hara- means defeated-That means Ten faced defeated i.e Ravan, the King of Lanka from the epic Ramayana. In the great epic Mahabharata, the Pandavas after wandering in the forest for 12 years hung their weapons on a Shami tree before entering the court of King Virat to spend the last one year in disguise.

After the completion of that year, on Vijaya Dashami, they brought down the weapons from the tree and declared their true identity. Since that day the exchange of Shami leaves on Dassera day became symbols of good will and victory.

During this auspicious period, recitations from the great epic of Ramayana are  dramatized and performed on stage ,known as Ramleela which recreate the situations with music and dance which depict the  great deeds of Lord Ram.

Huge idols and effigies of Ravan are made of wood, straws etc.are set on fire,symbolizing the end of the evil. Dassera in Mysore city is something that one must see to believe the grandeur of India. The citys name Mysore is derived from the demon Mahisasura who was killed by Goddess Chamundeshwari,that is Durgama herself.

Dassera is also thought as -The entry of God and is celebrated by decorating the entrance of houses, offices and shops with marigold flowers,with mango leaves in a string which means "Toran". These garlands are seen adorned on vehicles, machineries, books and also tools. 

As this festival is celebrated throughout India, each state has its own specialty that is made for this auspicious occasion.Shami Leaves are exchanged by people as a token of gold and wish "Happy Dassera".