[Advaita-l] Vijayadashami Date 2013

[Anand Hudli]

The VijayAdashami is celebrated usually when the dashamI prevails in the
aparANha kAla, i.e. the afternoon. Technically, the aparANha kAla is the
third part of the day (excluding the night), when we divide the daylight
hours by 3. In the simple case where daylight exists for 12 hours and
assuming a sunrise at 6 AM (local time), the first part of 4 hours (12
divided by 3), i.e. from 6 AM to 10 AM is prAtaH kAla, the next 4 hours,
i.e. from 10 AM to 2 PM is madhyAnha kAla, and the aparANha kAla is from 2
PM to 6 PM.

Since the dashamI starts on the Oct 13th at 3:48 AM EDT and ends at 1:46 AM
EDT on the 14th, there is no doubt the VijayAdashamI feast falls on the
13th.

Even in places like Bangalore, India the VijayA dashamI is to be celebrated
on the 13th for the same reason, and also due to the presence of the
shravaNa nakShatra. Interested members may consult the dharma sindhu,
pariccheda 2.

Anand