Today, as we celebrate Vijaya Dashami & Ayudha Pooja, we are reminded that victory is not only about Raman defeating Ravanan, but also about the inner journeys we make when we learn, unlearn & relearn.

In many traditions, this day is marked by honoring the tools of our learning, whether it is letters, books, pens, musical instruments, work tools, or even digital apps depending on what aids our growth. In Ayudha Pooja, we place these objects aside, bless them, & then bring them back into our lives, symbolizing respect for knowledge in all its forms.

But knowledge is not limited to literacy & numeracy. True learning is also about idea generation, co-creation, skill strengthening, & building collective support systems.

Just as Rama’s victory was not his alone but a collective effort, with Hanuman’s courage, Lakshmanan’s loyalty, Vibheeshanan’s counsel, Sugrivan’s strategy, & countless others, we too need diverse forms of support in our journeys.

Some of us may find strength in:

- therapy & reflection

- physical movement or energy practices

-creativity & art

-sexual expression & intimacy

-emotional connection & community

-spiritual practices or rituals

-nature connection

-rest & sensory regulation

-storytelling & narrative practices

-mentorship & guidance

-play & laughter

-learning & knowledge exchange

-music & rhythm

-activism & advocacy

-touch & sensory grounding

-silence & solitude

-food & nourishment

-digital & adaptive tools

-or simply the quiet presence of a supportive friend

No single tool of support is greater or lesser than another. Each of us learns in our own rhythm, unlearns at our own pace, & relearns in our own ways.

And for some of us, circumstances beyond our control mean that we must seek supports that look different, a crutch, a gesture, an app, a sensory aid, or adaptive strategies. This is not weakness but wisdom: the wisdom to know that all of us need support, & that support is diverse.

The battle of Dussehra, then, is not only the battle between good & evil. It is also the daily battle within us, to shed what no longer serves us, to lean into what sustains us, & to walk alongside others in shared learning.

On this Vijaya Dashami, may we remember:

Learning is collective

Support is diverse

Victory is shared

May we carry forward the spirit of Raman's story, not as a tale of hierarchy, but as a reminder that every skill, every voice, & every tool matters in the collective triumph of humanity.