It is believed that in ancient times, this was a festival intended for the Kshatriyas or warrior class of India. After the four month long monsoon when military activity was not possible, this was considered a good time to start afresh on one’s conquests. For nine days before starting on the war journey, kings prayed to the nine different aspects of Devi or Adishakti. They also prayed for their arms and ammunition. The tenth day was when the journey for the conquest began.
The origin of this custom can also be traced to the Ramayana. According to it, Rama had to pray to the nine different aspects of Devi to be able to kill Ravana. He then accumulated enough power to kill Ravana on the tenth day, which was called Vijayadashmi or day of victory. Since then, the tradition of praying to the Devi for nine days has continued. The Kshatriyas believed that by doing so, they too would be able to defeat their most powerful enemy.
On the eighth day, an animal is sacrificed by many communities, specially
Gurkhas and other hill tribes who are believers in the Devi cult. This blood
sacrifice is a way of thanking the goddess for a wish that has been granted.
People often sacrifice a buffalo symbolic of the killing of Mahishasura by
Durga.
