Two great victories are remembered on this day. In the Devī Māhātmya the Goddess slays Mahiṣāsura after nine nights of battle, so the tenth day crowns Navarātri. In the north, the day is linked with Rāma, who is said to have worshipped the Goddess before setting out against Rāvaṇa and to have won on this day; the Rāmlīlā plays of the nine nights end with the burning of Rāvaṇa's effigy.
The Mahābhārata adds that the Pāṇḍavas hid their weapons in a śamī tree during their year in disguise and took them back on this day. That is why the śamī tree is worshipped and its leaves are exchanged as "gold" in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
