Dussehra

Dasara (Dussehra) is one of the popular and enthralling festivals of India celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm. It is celebrated throughout India by the Hindus. But people of other religions also join them in celebrating it. The Dussehra festival celebration is unique in its perspective and significance. It is the celebration of the Victory of Good over Evil. Dussehra is also known as Vijaya Dasami, because of the victory of Ram over Ravana. Dussera can also be interpreted as "Dasa-Hara", which means the cutting of the ten heads of Ravana. Dusserah (Dasara) literally means the tenth day. It marks the end of the nine days of Navaratri. The first nine nights are spent in the worship of goddess Durga and hence these nights are known as Navaratri. Dussehra marks the beginning of the pleasant winter season after the searing heat of summer. Dussehra falls on the 10th day of the waxing moon during the Hindu month of Ashvin (around September or October). Diwali comes exactly 20 days after Dussehra on Amavas (new moon), during fortnight of Kartik, some time in October or November. Vijayadashami is also the day of the Goddess Saraswati,the deity of knowledge and learning. People worship weapons and vehicles on this day. It is an auspicious occasion for children to commence their education in classical dance and music, and to pay respect to their teachers. On the day of Dussehra, Ram, killed the great demon Ravan, who had abducted Ram's wife Sita to his kingdom of Lanka. Ram, along with his brother Lakshman and devoted follower Hanuman, and an army of monkeys fought a great battle to rescue his lovely wife Sita. The war against Ravan lasted for ten days. Sita had been returned to her husband Ram and they now make their way to Ayodhya in triumph and glory. Thus, it is on the Diwali day that Lord Ram, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the Treta Yug, returned to his capital Ayodhya after the exile of fourteen years. Consequently, to commemorate the return of Ram, Sita and Lakshman to Ayodhya, people celebrate Diwali with the bursting of crackers and by lighting up their houses with earthen diyas. This grand style of celebration has continued, year after year. To this day, the whole of Ramayana is enacted in dramas staged in huge pandals and maidans, in cities, towns and villages, on the occasion of Dussehra and Diwali. Another legend that is linked to Dussehra is that of the Goddess Durga slaying the buffalo-demon, Mahishasura. According to popular mythology, the gods were compelled to grant Mahishasura indomitable powers for his unparalleled meditation. As expected, the omnipotent buffalo-demon Mahishasura raised hell at the gates of heaven, astounding the gods with his mammoth dominion. The infuriated gods then created Durga. It is believed that Durga was actualised by the combined effort of all deities. Durga possesses a weapon of each god and is said to be more powerful than all of them put together. Dasara is also believed to have marked the end of the exile and banishment of the Pandava princes in the Hindu epic Mahabharata and their return with their weapons to reclaim their kingdom from Kauravas. The festival of Dussehra is an important celebration in many parts of the country. Almost every part of the country has its own specific way of celebrating the victory of good over evil. It is celebrated with great fanfare in most parts of North India, Mysore and in the form of Durga Puja in West Bengal. This celebration starts from Navratri and ends with the tenth day festival of Dussehra. Full preparations are made for several days for the celebrations of Dussehra before the actual day of the festival. Houses and Bazaars are decorated. Sweet dishes are prepared in all houses on Dussehra day. Sweets are bought for the children. All people put on new clothes; children also put on new clothes and feel very happy on this day. On Dussehra day a mock battle is fought between Shri. Rama and Ravana. The battle results in the victory of Shri. Rama. The people celebrate this victory by burning the effigies of evil persons in the evening. These effigies are filled with crackers. They burst with loud noise when they are set on fire. The people shout Shri Ram Chandra Ki Jai as the flames of the fire rise. After this a victory procession is taken out throughout the city. All people join this procession and pay their respects to Sri Rama. The theatrical enactment of this dramatic encounter is held throughout the country in which every section of people participates enthusiastically. Songs are sung in praise of Rama and people in thousands witness this traditional theatre with its exaggerated costumes, jewelry, makeup and drama. Dussehra day is considered a most auspicious day. It is a time-honored belief that if any new venture is started on this day, it is bound to be successful. Hence, all the undertakings like laying-in of foundation of a new building, opening of a new commercial establishment or even initiating a child into the world of learning are started on this day. Also on this day implements of agriculture, manufacturer's machines, the intellectuals pens, the household articles, the children's school books are placed before the idol of Durga and worshiped. Shastra pooja (great worship of weapons) is also especially carried out on this day. Vijayadashami is considered to be an auspicious day for the Indian householder, on which he worships, protects and preserves 'Shakti' (power). According to Scriptures, by worshipping the 'Shakti' on these nine-days the householders attain the threefold power i.e. physical, mental and spiritual, which helps him to progress in life without any difficulty. In India, the harvest season begins at this time; and as mother earth is the source of all food, the Mother Goddess is invoked to start the new harvest season and to reactivate the vigor and fertility of the

soil. This is done through religious performances and rituals which invoke cosmic forces that are believed to rejuvenate the soil. On the day, statues of the Goddess Durga are submerged in the waters of the river. These statues are made with the clay, and the pooja is performed with turmeric and other pooja items, which are powerful disinfectants and mixed in the river waters. This makes water useful for the farmers and yields better crops. In Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Western Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, it is traditional to plant barley seeds in earthen pots on the first day of Navrathri. On the day of Dussehra, the nine-day old sprouts (called noratras or nortas) are used as symbols of luck. Men place them in their caps or behind their ears. Mysore of Karnataka is synonymous with the Dusserah festival where it is celebrated with great pomp and glory since centuries. Mysore Dussehra festivities have become an integral part of the culture and life in Mysore so much that Dusserah has become the state festival of Karnataka. During the ten day long Dasara festivities the city buzzes with tremendous activity. House, shops and important buildings in the city are decorated and illuminated for the period of the celebrations. The well-known musicians of Karnataka and from other regions perform in front of the illuminated Palace. The Royal Palace of Mysore is open to the public and the royal throne is displayed. The State Government arranges music, dance, doll shows and folk dance performances. Also Wrestling, sports competitions, exhibitions, food and film festival are organized as part of the event. Special religious ceremonies are held at different temples in Mysore especially in the Chamundeshwari Temple on top of the Chamundi Hills. The highlight of the colorful event is the Vijayadashami procession held on the tenth day. This state organized procession involves carrying of the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari kept in the golden howdah on top of a decorated elephant. The procession begins at the Mysore Palace and ends at the Banni Mantapa grounds, after traveling a distance of about 2.5 miles. Live performance of folk artists and musicians in the procession and the stunning display of fireworks mark the grand finale. Dussehra is celebrated with great joy, happiness and excitement with believe in triumph of good over evil. In burning the effigies the people are asked to burn the evil within them, and thus follow the path of truth and goodness, bearing in mind the instance of Ravana, who despite all his might and majesty was destroyed for his evil ways. In modern times it calls for efforts to destroy the demon of our ego, and radiate peace and love. The festival has now become symbolic of the message that truth always triumphs.