Dussehra 2025: How to Win Your Financial Battles with Smart Saving

Dussehra 2025 (also known as Vijayadashami) falls on Thursday, October 2, 2025. Celebrated across India with grand processions, Ramlila performances, and Durga idol immersions, this festival marks the victory of good over evil. For many, it’s also an auspicious time to begin new ventures — whether buying gold, starting a business, or beginning fresh investments.

This year, as you celebrate with family and friends, why not also declare victory over financial stress? Just as Dussehra signifies triumph and new beginnings, it’s the perfect time to start your journey with a Savings Account (SA) and a Fixed Deposit (FD) — the two pillars of secure and smart banking.

Quick Calendar: Dussehra & Durga Puja 2025

• Dussehra (Vijayadashami): Thursday, October 2, 2025 (Gazetted holiday)

• Durga Puja (Sharadotsav/Durgotsav) key dates:

  
  - Sept 28: Start of Puja festivities
  
  - Sept 29: Maha Saptami
  
  - Sept 30: Maha Ashtami
  
  - Oct 1: Maha Navami
  
  - Oct 2: Vijaya Dashami (immersion/Visarjan)

In states like West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and Tripura, holidays extend over multiple days of Durga Puja, while most other parts of India observe a single-day Dussehra holiday.

How Do People Celebrate Dussehra?

• North India: Theatrical Ramlila plays, burning of Ravana’s effigies, and grand processions.
• East India (especially West Bengal): Culmination of Durga Puja with idol immersions (Visarjan), pandal hopping, and cultural programs.
• South India: Ayudha Puja (worship of tools, vehicles, and instruments), Saraswati Puja, decorated homes and temples.
• Karnataka (Mysuru): The world-famous Mysuru Dasara, with a royal procession and Mysore Palace illuminated in thousands of lights.
• Maharashtra: Exchange of Apta leaves (gold leaves) symbolising prosperity.
• Nepal: Dashain festival, marked by tika blessings and family reunions.

Durga Puja Holidays 2025 (Sharadotsav/Durgotsav)

Durga Puja, also known as Sharadotsav or Durgotsav, is a multi-day celebration dedicated to Goddess Durga’s triumph over Mahishasura. In 2025, it spans from September 28 to October 2, ending with Vijaya Dashami.

Schools, offices, and banks in eastern states often remain closed for several days during this period, giving families time to participate in rituals, pandal hopping, and cultural events.

Just as Durga Puja spreads over multiple days, financial planning too should be layered across timeframes — daily liquidity through a Savings Account and medium/long-term stability through Fixed Deposits.

Is Dussehra a Public Holiday?

Yes. Dussehra 2025 (October 2) is a gazetted holiday across India. Banks, schools, and government offices remain closed, though the length of holidays varies by region. In states like West Bengal, Durga Puja adds several consecutive holidays.

Why Dussehra is the Perfect Time for New Financial Beginnings?

Dussehra is not just about burning Ravana effigies; it’s about renewal and victory. Many of us consider it an auspicious time to buy property, gold, or vehicles. Why not also make it the day you conquer financial uncertainty?

• Savings Account = liquidity & safety. Your shield for emergencies and daily needs.
• Fixed Deposit = discipline & growth. Your sword to lock money away from impulse spending and ensure guaranteed returns.

Conquer Financial Demons: The 10 Heads of Ravana

Each of Ravana’s ten heads can represent a financial mistake you can conquer this Vijayadashami:

1. Impulse buying: Solution - Budgeting & 48-hour rule

Making a budget keeps your spending planned, while the 48-hour rule helps you avoid impulsive purchases by giving yourself time to think before buying.

What is the 48-hour rule? It’s a smart way to control impulse spending. If you see something you want to buy, especially non-essentials, wait 48 hours before purchasing. Most of the time the urge fades, saving you money for things that really matter.

2. No Emergency Fund: Solution – Use Recurring Deposit or Savings Account

Every month, keep the extra cash aside to build an emergency fund. You can open a high-interest Savings Account or a Recurring Deposit to set up an emergency fund to battle unforeseen circumstances like medical emergencies.

3. High-Interest Debt: Solution - Craft a Solid Repayment plan

List all your loans and pay off the ones with the highest interest first (like credit cards). A structured repayment plan saves money and reduces stress.

4. Idle Cash: Solution - FD Ladder

Instead of leaving money idle, split it into multiple Fixed Deposits with different maturity dates. This way, you earn interest while still having periodic access to funds. If you have a business, consider opting for Business Maxima Current Account. Any surplus cash above ₹4 lakh would be moved to an FD, so your idle cash keeps earning interest.

5. Ignoring Goals: Solution: Start Goal-based Saving

Define specific goals (holiday, education, home). Allocate money separately for each — either in Savings Accounts, FDs or any other investment instruments so your savings stay on track.

6. Paying Late Fees: Solution - Autopay Setup

Avoid unnecessary charges by enabling autopay for utilities, EMIs, and credit cards. Payments are deducted automatically, ensuring you never miss a due date.

7. Tax Surprises: Solution - Advance declaration & Form 15G/15H

Plan taxes in advance and submit Form 15G/15H (if eligible) to avoid excess TDS on interest. Proactive tax planning prevents shocks at year-end.

8. No insurance → Health/term plan review

Review your insurance needs regularly. Adequate health and life cover protect your family’s finances in emergencies, preventing you from dipping into savings.

9. Risk concentration → Diversify across banks (DICGC ₹5 lakh cover)

Diversify your portfolio. Invest in FDs, PPF (Public Provident Fund), NPS and other Government savings schemes, open an RD for emergency fund, etc. Basically, keep your portfolio diversified.

10. Living paycheque to paycheque → Start FD/Recurring Deposit

Break the cycle by committing to a Recurring Deposit or invest in multiple FDs spread across tenures. This builds savings discipline and ensures you always set money aside.

Disclaimer: The above example is for illustration purposes only.
 

Navratri to Vijayadashami: 9 Days, 9 Money Lessons

Each Navratri day can inspire a financial virtue:

And finally Vijayadashami – consider the above checklist and try to follow it diligently.

Smart FD Tactics This Dussehra

• FD Laddering: Split investments across 3, 6, 12 months to match upcoming needs.
• Step-up strategy: Reinvest matured FDs into longer tenures.
• Nomination check: Ensure FDs and accounts have updated nominees before holidays.