Ravana, the symbol of evil, will burn into afterlife on different dates in different parts of the country. In Rajasthan, he pays for his sins on October 18, the date for Dussehra issued by religious groups and acharyas who are well-versed with the panchang (Vedic almanac), while the gazette notification by the government of Rajasthan marks the demon king's end the following day, on October 19.
Despite the decision by Ramlila organisers to conclude their plays on October 18 (which ends in Ravana flaring up), the state government will not change the Dussehra notification. October 18 was recognised as Dussehra by more than 50 religious scholars who convened recently at the "dharmsabha" in Jaipur on Monday. The intellectual group comprised Sanskrit academicians, astrologers and panchang experts, including the makers of Martang Panchag and Samrat Panchang.
"Ravan dehan is on October 18, so Ramlila will conclude on this day. We have settled on this date after looking up the Jaipur StatePanchang," said Praveen Bade Bhaiya of Ramlila Maidan, New Gate in Jaipur.
The General Administration Department (GAD), which decides the government calender, says they have not received any representation regarding change in date. Thus government offices will observe a holiday on Friday, October 19. "We consult different panchangs to decide on the dates," an official added.
In Gujarat, Dussehra falls on October 18, but Ravana's effigies will go up in flames the subsequent day, marked as Ravan Dahan. "Government offices and banks shall remain closed on Thursday," a state official said.
In Mumbai, the Bombay Stock Exchange will remain closed on October 18 for the festival. However, those following vedic almanacs are uncertain of the exact date that Ravana will metaphorically die. "We follow the lunar panchang to decide Dussehra," says Jayraj Salgaonkar, managing director of Kalnirnay, a popular almanac and calender. "The moon changes its position every two and half hours. The date of Dussehra depends on moon's position and tithi — it is a complex combination."
There's a winner in this confusion: Students of Jaipur's public schools. Most public schools have declared a holiday on both 18 and 19 October. Schools and colleges affiliated with Gujarat Board are already on vacations till October 18 for Navratri.
The confusion over Dusshera won't affect Diwali. "Dashami tithi (the date of Dussehra) falls on both days, but Vijaydashmi is celebrated when Shravan nakshtra overlaps with Dashmi tithi, which falls on October 18," says Professor Bhaskar Sharma, principal of Maharaj Acharya Sanskrit college in Jaipur.
RBI has declared both October 18 and 19 as holidays. Bank branches in different cities will sync their holidays as per the state. Jaipur's and New Delhi's branch of RBI will be shut on October 19, while in Mumbai and Kanpur, the bank will be closed on October 18. The Lucknow branch will enjoy a holiday on both October 18 and 19.
The stock market was agog with rumours of an extended holiday for Dussehra. While stock exchanges are shut on Thursday on account of Dussehra, the buzz in the market was that there would be an additional holiday on Friday. Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD & CEO of BSE Ltd, was quick to deny it. "The holiday falls on Thursday. The holiday list is announced at the start of the year. International investors and investors across the country plan their holidays based on the list," he told DNA Money, adding that some TV journalists created confusion in the market
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