Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashmi (‘Vijay’ means ‘victory’ and ‘Dashmi means “tenth day”), is a most significant Hindu festival celebrated annually with great joy and enthusiasm by the Hindu people all over India. Mainly, this festival marks the triumph of Rama, an avatar of Vishnu, over the 10-headed demon king Ravana, who abducted Rama’s wife, Sita. Actually, the main message that Dussehra gives is the victory of good over the evil and triumph of truth over lies.
Symbolizing the triumph of good over evil, Dussehra is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Ashvina (September–October), the seventh month of the Hindu calendar, with the look of the complete moon, an happening called the “bright fortnight” (Shukla Paksha). Dussehra accords with the end of the nine-day <b.navratri< b=””> festival. Dussehra is celebrated in a different way in different parts of the country depending on the legend believed in each state. This year Dussehra is coming on <b.friday, october=”” 19,=”” 2018<=”” b=””>.</b.friday,></b.navratri<>
Importance of Dussehra Festival
The festival of Dussehra is unique in its perception and importance. People throughout India celebrate the auspicious occasion of Dussehra in their own way. Each region has its own specialty. There are numerous mythological stories that signify the celebration of Dussehra. Different regions in the country follow one of these and celebrate accordingly. Following are three main stories that explain why Dussehra is celebrated on such a large scale.
- • According to one legend, the story begins during Navratri and ends with Dussehra. It is believed that there was a time when demons become powerful and created havoc on earth. To control their wrath the gods could not do much. <b.mahishasura< b=””> in particular was the most powerful demon. In a bid to kill him, the gods got together and combined their energies that gave rise to Shakti or Durga. She had 10 arms and the gods gave her their weapons to destroy the demon. She sat on a lion and fought with Mahishasura for nine nights and finally managed to destroy him completely on the tenth day. This day marks the celebration of Dussehra which is preceded by Navratri.</b.mahishasura<>
- • According to the great Hindu epic Ramayana, Lord Rama, Laxmana, Hanuman, and their troupe marched to Lanka to kill Ravana who had abducted Rama’s wife Sita to take revenge of his sister, Suparnakha. Dussehra is the day when Lord Ram killed ten-headed demon king Ravana of Sri Lanka and rescued his wife. It is called a victory of virtue over sin or immorality. The end of Ravana meant the end of bad and evil spirit as he was a demon by birth too. The festival of Dussehra is celebrated to mark this event by burning the effigy of Ravana in the evening that symbolizes the power of goodness is above all kind of evil powers.
- • There is also a legend from the epic Mahabharata that is one of the reasons to celebrate Dussehra. According to this one, after Pandavas lost to Kauravas, they were exiled in the forest for 12 years. The Pandavas hid all their weapons in a Shami tree that had a hole. On Vijayadashmi, after completing their exile, they retrieved their weapons and revealed their true identity to the Kauravas and also defeated them. Since it was the Shami tree that protected their weapons and eventually helped them win their kingdom back, it is worshipped on Dussehra and exchanging Shami leaves on this day is considered auspicious.
How is Dussehra Celebrated?
North India:
With so many legends around this festival, it goes without saying that it is celebrated in different ways in different parts of the county. Here’s a look at how varied regions celebrated the festival of Dussehra. There are different customs and rituals observed during Dussehra. One of the most popular ones is the Ramleela, which is an enactment of the Ramayana. It’s a kind of “Mela” organized by different communities. In Ramleela scenes from Rama’s life is represented such as the reunion of Rama with his brother Bharat, the victory over Ravana, the return of Rama and an assortment of other scenes.
In the north, another tradition which is followed is to sow barley on the first day of Navratri so that it grows by the tenth day. Usually, people celebrate Dussehra by burning the effigy of Ravana, his brother Kumbhkarna and son Meghnath and it is the commencement of the play based on the epic, Ramayana. It is the final day and there is usually a fete organized and enjoyed by people. A chariot carrying Ram, Sita, and Lakshman passes through the crowd and the person enacting Ram aims an arrow to burn the effigies one by one.
Tamil Nadu:
Nine days of Dussehra is similarly divided for worshipping Goddess namely Durga, LakshmiSaraswati. Individuals from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh arrange small idols and dolls known as ‘Bommai Kolu’ on artificial steps and decorate the steps with colorful flowers and lamps. Effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghnath are also burnt. The Mysore palace is light up for the entire month during the Dussehra season.
East India:
Particularly in West Bengal, Dussehra is celebrated as the victory of Goddess Durga (the Goddess of Shakti) over the demon king Mahishasura. Dussehra is the very last day of the ten-day festival – Durga Puja when idols of Goddess Durga are engrossed in water. The festival in Orissa is called Vijaya Dashami.
West India:
Dussehra is the conclusion of Navratri. Maharashtra watches Dussehra on the tenth day of the Ashwin month as per the Hindu calendar, which is the last day of Navratri. Idols establish on the first day of Navaratri are immersed in water on the last day of Dussehra.
It is whispered that it is not only the triumph of Lord Rama over demon Ravana but it is the success of mankind that’s why this day is celebrated with great religious fervor and said that whenever evil power will try to rule humankind, God will appear to save his devotees.
On Dussehra, people greet each other and pray for the prosperous and long life. May this Dussehra bring you loads of joy, prosperity and success and may your worries burn away with the effigy of Ravana. A very happy Dussehra to you and your entire family!