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“God’s light is within you, It never leaves you.”
Dussehra is also known as Vijayadashmi in many parts of the Indian subcontinent.
These two words are synonymous with each other.
One part of the word means victory while the other part means “on 10th day”.
The primary aim of the Dussehra festivities is to mark “the victory of good over evil”.
Origin of Dussehra: Dussehra is the victory day adopted from the Indian epic poem “Ramayana”.
This poem records the story of a young, to-be-king “Rama”.
The struggles of his life and, his surprising victory over one of the most feared and an invincible person of his era is what “Ramayana” is about.
The entire poem is an artwork of a highly renowned poet of that era, “Maharshi Valmiki”. It is believed that the story told in “Ramayana” took place on 5 BCE.
Story of Ramayana: The word “Ramayana” is a combination of 2 Sanskrit words viz “Rama” and “Ayana”.
These two words mean the story of “Rama’s time”.
The main character, Rama is considered as the seventh incarnation of one of the Hindu gods “Lord Vishnu” who is one part of the great trinity of India gods viz “Lord Brahma, “Lord Vishnu”, and “Lord Shiva”.
In this way, Rama is himself a god whom Hindus worship.
The story of “Ramayana” talks about Rama who was selected as the king of “Ayodhya” by his father.
But, his father is bound to fulfill one wish of his second wife named “Kaikaiyi”, who asks Rama’s (on receiving news of Rama’s selection as new king) father to banish Rama to the forest for the coming 14 years so that her son could become the king of Ayodhya.
Rama being a dutiful son acknowledges Kaikaiyi’s wish for exiling him.
But, his wife “Sita” and younger brother “Lakshamana” did not wish to let him go alone.
So, both accompanied him during his years of exile.
During his stay in the forest, his wife Sita is abducted by the invincible “Ravana” who wishes to marry her.
Rama’s search for his wife remained fruitless.
So, he formed an alliance with the monkey-king “Sugreev” to search for his wife.
Then Rama and the allied forces travel everywhere in the South of the Indian subcontinent to find the whereabouts of Ravana. He and his allies find Sita in the custody of Ravana at his kingdom, “Lanka”.
After many failed attempts to persuade Ravana to return his wife peacefully, Rama had to declare a war to rescue his wife. Therefore, he and his allied forces moved towards Ravana’s kingdom, Lanka.
The last days of the war were fought between Ravana and Rama that continued for 9 consecutive days.
On the 10th day, Rama kills Ravana and frees Sita devi.
This 10th day of the final battle is celebrated as “Dussehra”.
How is Dussehra celebrated?: The day is celebrated with great vigour almost everywhere in the Indian Subcontinent.
A number of plays are organized by committees all over the country depicting the key events of Ramayana.
This play is popularly known as “Ramleela”.
People put tilaks on their forehead, offer sweets and fruits to the gods in temples.
The priests in temples recite the Ramayana verses all day long. In the evening, an effigy of Ravana filled with crackers is burnt.
Religious Significance of Dussehra: Since Lord Rama is an incarnation of one of the three prime gods in Hindu religion “Lord Vishnu”, the importance of his life story is considered to have a huge religious significance.
He is often referred to as “Maryada Purushottama” for the fact that he always faced life without breaking any protocols of the Hindu belief system.
Every part of Ramayana directs men about how to spend life even if it is a challenging one.
The festival of Dussehra depicts the victory of good against evil. Ravana was a powerful king.
And, he was also a great devotee, a warrior, an educated person, and an artist.
But, he fails to ebb his ego thereby mistreating his people as well as his family members.
And when his torment surpasses its limit, Lord Vishnu reincarnates on Earth to liberate the world from his torments. Hence, the life of Rama and his battle with Ravana is considered as a religious battle.
And the day of victory is celebrated till today all over the Indian subcontinent as Dussehra.
Spiritual Significance of Dussehra Rama is considered as “self” or “consciousness”.
And, Ravana is considered as ten primal negatives emotions. Or, ten things that keep us apart from self-realization.
These ten negativities are ego, attachment, regret, anger, greed, jealousy, lust, insensitivity, fear, and hatred.
These ten negativities naturally come with different situations of our lives.
But, one has to overcome these negativities to know actual himself/herself.
Otherwise, we would remain unconscious of self and continually aim to satisfy ourselves with worldly pleasures only.
One is considered eligible to celebrate Dussehra in its true sense only if he/she has gained victory over his senses/emotions and, is no more a slave to his emotions.
Is Ramayana a work of fiction or a real story?
Since the story of Ramayana took place thousands of years ago, so there is a lot of debate on it being a real story.
The war of Ramayana took place in Lanka, presently known as “Sri Lanka”.
The country of Sri Lanka acknowledges more than 50 historical sites that are depicted in Ramayana.
Even tours are held there to visit the specific sites featured in the Ramayana.
So, it seems that Ramayana is not a work of fiction in its entirety.
Additionally, several South-Eastern countries of Asia apart from India and Sri Lanka, regularly organize plays of the Ramayana. Some of these countries are Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Mongolia, and Vietnam.
Tourists enjoy the play with great awe and enjoyment.
Hence, a huge proportion of the population of the South-Eastern Asian countries acknowledge the existence of Lord Rama (without religious boundaries) which makes the “Ramayana” an actual story and not a work of fiction completely.
There were times when a certain amount of devotion to someone could automatically turn a human towards self-awareness.
However, nowadays it is all about materialism.
Thus, the importance of festivals like Dussehra that indirectly remind us to move towards self- consciousness while facing all the challenges of life, is becoming more and more relevant these days.
Dussehra Festival
Why is Dussehra Celebrated After Navratri?
The countdown for the highly anticipated Indian festival ‘Dussehra‘ has begun, as devotees from around the globe come together to celebrate the Navratri festivities of worshipping nine divine incarnations of Goddess Durga for nine nights.
The festival of Dussehra, Durga Puja or Vijaya Dashami marks the celebration of the victory of good over evil.
It is celebrated with much fanfare in different manners across different regions of India.
While Dussehra is celebrated in North India, Vijaya Dashami is celebrated in South India and the Bengali community celebrate Durga Puja.
What is Dussehra?
Dussehra, comes from two words – ‘dasha’ meaning ten heads of Ravana and ‘hara’ meaning defeat.
The festival commemorates Lord Ram’s glorious victory over the ten-headed demon king Ravana, who had kidnapped his wife, the goddess Sita, sparking an epic battle.
According to Indian mythology, each of Ravana’s heads represented a different nature or emotion.
These include kama (sexual desire), bhaye (fear), moha (attachment), ahankar (ego), lobha (greed), jaddata (callousness), mada (pride), ghrina (hatred), krodha (anger) and irshya (envy).
On Dussehra, people not only celebrate the triumph of Lord Ram but also try to overcome every negative situation and emotion by virtue of their benevolent nature.
Durga Puja begins on the sixth day of Navratri, signifying the glorious victory of Goddess Durga over the formidable ‘buffalo demon’ Mahishasura, whose evil actions had brought the world into absolute chaos and destruction.
Why Dussehra is Celebrated After Navratri?
Dussehra is celebrated after the nine-day festival of Navratri because it has immense significance in Hindu mythology, signifying the glorious triumph of Lord Ram over the demon king Ravana of Lanka.
According to legend, Lord Ram prayed to Goddess Durga before going on a war to rescue Goddess Sita from the clutches of Ravana.
Devotees in North India and across the country commemorate Dussehra with great fervour as they symbolically ignite the embodiment of evil by burning effigies of Ravana along with his younger brother Kumbhakarana and powerful warrior son Meghanada.
The celebration is further enhanced by the explosive display of firecrackers, an awe-inspiring spectacle of the festival. Durga Puja, on the other hand, is symbolic of Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon king Mahishasura.
The people of West Bengal and the Bengali community mark the grand finale of the festival before immersing the idol of Goddess Durga in water (visarjan ceremony) to bid her farewell.
Dussehra Festival
Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami, Dasara, or Dashain) is a Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil.
It is a gazetted holiday in India, which is marked on the 10th day of the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the month of Ashvin (Ashwayuja), according to the Hindu calendar.
Is Dussehra a Public Holiday?
Dussehra is a public holiday.
It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.
What Do People Do?
Many people of the Hindu faith observe Dussehra through special prayer meetings and food offerings to the gods at home or in temples throughout India.
They also hold outdoor fairs (melas) and large parades with effigies of Ravana (a mythical king of ancient Sri Lanka).
The effigies are burnt on bonfires in the evening.
Dussehra is the culmination of the Navaratri festival.
There are many local celebrations in some areas in India that can last for up to 10 days.
Local events include:
Performances of the Ramlila (a short version of the epic Ramayana) in Northern India.
A large festival and procession including the goddess Chamundeshwari on a throne mounted on elephants in the town of Mysore in the state of Karnataka.
The blessing of household and work-related tools, such as books, computers, cooking pans and vehicles in the state of Karnataka.
The preparation of special foods, including luchi (deep fried flat bread) and alur dom (deep fried spiced potato snacks), in Bengal.
Many Hindus also believe that it is lucky to start a new venture, project or journey on Dussehra.
They may also exchange gifts of leaves from the Shami tree (Prosopis spicigera) as a symbol of the story of the Pandavas brothers’ exile in the Mahabharata stories.
Public Life
Government offices, post offices and banks are closed in India on Dussehra.
Stores and other businesses and organizations may be closed or have reduced opening hours.
Those wishing to use public transport on the day may need to contact the local transport authorities to check on timetables.
Background
Dussehra celebrates the Hindu god Rama’s victory over the demon king Ravana and the triumph of good over evil.
The epic Ramayana tells the story of the Lord Rama who wins the lovely Sita for his wife, only to have her carried off by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka.
Ravana plays an important role in the Ramayana.
Ravana had a sister known as Shoorpanakha.
She fell in love with the brothers Rama and Lakshamana and wanted to marry one of them. Lakshamana refused to marry her and Rama could not as he was already married to Sita.
Shoorpanakha threatened to kill Sita, so that she could marry Rama.
This angered Lakshamana who cut off Shoorpanakha’s nose and ears.
Ravana then kidnapped Sita to avenge his sister’s injuries.
Rama and Lakshamana later fought a battle to rescue Sita.
The monkey god Hanuman and a huge army of monkeys helped them.
The Mahabharata is another series of Hindu stories that play a role in the Dussehra festival.
The Pandavas were five brothers who fought evil forces with a set of distinctive weapons.
They abandoned their weapons and went into exile for one year.
They hid their weapons in a Shami tree and found them at the same place when they returned from exile.
They then worshipped the tree before going to a battle, which they won.
This epic is also commemorated during Dussehra.
Symbols
Symbols seen throughout the Dussehra/Vijaya Dashami celebrations include:
Bonfires and fireworks
Paper and wood effigies of Ravana.
Red spots (tika) painted on people’s foreheads.
The effigies of Ravana are often burnt on the bonfires.
Why Is Dussehra also known as Vijayadashami & What is its significance?
Dussehra is one of the most important festivals in India, celebrating the triumph of good over evil.
It is celebrated on the tenth day of the Hindu month of Ashvin, which usually falls in September or October.
The festival commemorates the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana.
On the day of Dussehra, sculptures of Ravana and his brothers Meghnad and Kumbhakarna are burnt in public squares.
This symbolises the victory of good over evil and the destruction of evil forces.
Dussehra is also a time for family gatherings and celebrations.
People exchange gifts, sweets, and other delicacies.
They also visit temples and pray for good fortune and prosperity.
Why Is Dussehra Called Vijayadashmi?
Dussehra is also known as Vijayadashami, which is a Sanskrit word that means “the tenth day of victory.”
While the term Dussehra is more commonly used in North Indian states and Karnataka, the term Vijayadashami is more popular in West Bengal.
Bengalis celebrate the festival by performing Durga Visarjan, a ritual in which devotees take idols of Maa Durga for immersion in holy water bodies.
Durga Visarjan is a poignant and emotional occasion, as it marks the end of the five-day Durga Puja festival.
The Durga Visarjan procession is a grand and colourful spectacle.
Devotees sing and dance traditional songs and dances as they carry the idol of Maa Durga through the streets.
The procession is often accompanied by drummers and musicians, and people from all walks of life come out to witness it.
There are several reasons why Dussehra is called Vijayadashmi:
- It commemorates the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana.
In the epic Ramayana, Lord Rama and his allies battle Ravana, who has abducted Rama’s wife Sita.
After a long and fierce battle, Rama eventually defeats Ravana and rescues Sita. Dussehra celebrates this victory of good over evil.
- It commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
In the Hindu scriptures, Goddess Durga is often depicted as a warrior goddess who protects the good from the evil.
Dussehra celebrates one of Durga’s most famous victories, her defeat of Mahishasura.
- It marks the end of the nine-day Navratri festival.
Navratri is a festival that celebrates the different forms of the Hindu goddess Shakti. Dussehra falls on the tenth and final day of Navratri.
What Is the Significance of Dussehra?
In addition to its religious significance, Dussehra is also a time to celebrate the triumph of good over evil, truth over falsehood, and righteousness over injustice.
It is a time to reflect on the importance of these values and to recommit ourselves to living our lives in accordance with them.
Here are some of the specific reasons why Dussehra is significant
The victory of good over evil: Dussehra celebrates the victory of Lord Rama over King Ravana. This victory symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, truth over falsehood, and righteousness over injustice.
- Importance of unity and cooperation: Lord Rama was able to defeat Ravana with the help of his allies.
This teaches us the importance of unity and cooperation in achieving our goals.
- New beginnings: Dussehra is a time for new beginnings.
Many people start new businesses or ventures on this day.
It is also a time to reflect on our past year and make resolutions for the future.
- Family and community: Dussehra is a time for family gatherings and celebrations. People exchange gifts, sweets, and other delicacies.
They also visit temples and pray for good fortune and prosperity.
Dussehra Vijayadashami
The festive season is on and all we see around us are companies marketing their products and luring us with purchases on credit, easy availability of unsecured credit cards, cheap personal loans, and more.
The festival season translates into an opportunity to indulge in shopping extravaganzas.
With the abundance of enticing online shopping offers and promotions, it’s effortless to find ourselves tempted to exceed our planned budget. Rampant shopping can, however, put a dent in our finances, thus, prompting the need to put a check on your expenses.
There are many ways in which you can rein in the money that is spent during the festive season. These include:
Deciding how much to spend
Establishing a budget is the primary and most crucial stage in holiday season shopping.
By defining a budget and adhering to it, you can steer clear of extravagant spending and guarantee that you retain sufficient funds to meet other financial obligations, including rent, utilities, and groceries.
First, list your income and expenses. Calculate your overall income and expenditures.
This step will assist you in ascertaining the funds at your disposal for shopping.
To gauge your total income and expenses, commence by collecting your latest pay stubs, bank statements, and credit card statements.
After obtaining this data, begin categorising your income and expenses.
After organising your income and expenses into these categories, you can sum up the figures within each category to approximate your overall income and expenses.
The holiday season is frequently associated with lavishness, yet it’s essential to recognise that you can relish the celebrations without depleting your finances.
Concentrate on the aspects that hold the most significance.
What truly matters to you during the festive season?
Is it about cherished moments with loved ones, the joy of gift-giving, or savouring the festive ambience? Once you identify your top priorities, you can channel your expenditures toward those meaningful pursuits.
Don’t be in a hurry to buy anything and everything
Two effective strategies for securing the best bargains involve exercising patience and conducting price comparisons.
Patience allows you to bide your time for opportune sales or promotions, while price comparisons enhance your chances of discovering the most economical price for your desired item.
Consider these recommendations for cultivating patience and conducting price comparisons:
- Begin by compiling a list of the items you require or desire. This list will help you maintain your focus and steer clear of impulsive purchases.
- Engage in thorough research to ascertain the typical prices of the items that pique your interest. Utilise online retailers, price comparison websites, and physical stores as resources for this purpose.
- Opt for email subscriptions and follow relevant social media accounts. Many retailers extend exclusive discounts and promotions to their email subscribers and social media followers.
- Implement price alerts to receive notifications when the cost of a desired item decreases.
- Don’t shy away from haggling, particularly when purchasing high-value items. Explore the possibility of negotiating a reduced price with the seller.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that not all deals possess the same quality. Certain offers might appear exceedingly enticing but could potentially be deceptive, underscoring the importance of conducting research prior to any purchase.
It’s advisable to meticulously peruse the fine print and juxtapose various deals before arriving at a final decision.
Do not succumb to discount offers
Impulsive buying and squandering money are closely intertwined.
When we succumb to impulsive purchases, we often acquire items that are either unnecessary or beyond our financial means.
This behaviour can result in financial difficulties and contribute to wastefulness, as we might eventually discard unused items.
To deter impulsive buying, one effective strategy is to steer clear of time-sensitive deals that entice with lower discounts during the daytime and higher discounts during the nighttime.
Such offers are deliberately crafted to exploit our impulsive tendencies, coaxing us into spending more money than initially planned.
Avoid spending using credit cards
Credit cards can facilitate overspending by their ready accessibility and the option to defer full payment.
If used carelessly, this convenience can give rise to financial difficulties.
Here are several reasons why credit cards can facilitate overspending:
- Disconnected from wallet: When you use a credit card, the money doesn’t physically leave your wallet, creating the illusion that you’re not spending as much as you actually are.
- Purchasing without funds: Credit cards enable you to make purchases even when you lack the necessary funds in your bank account, potentially resulting in debt if not managed cautiously.
- Increased impulsiveness: Research indicates that people tend to make more impulsive purchases when using credit cards than cash transactions.
- Alluring rewards: Credit card companies entice customers with rewards programs designed to promote card usage.
While these rewards can be enticing, they can also encourage excessive spending.
Adhering to fundamental financial advice will help you maintain financial peace and fully enjoy festive occasions.
Spending during festivals is not inherently harmful; the concern arises when you unknowingly stretch your finances beyond their limits, potentially causing strain on your wallet.
Dussehra: History, Importance, And Why Do We Celebrate It?
About Dussehra Festival
At the conclusion of Navaratri every year, the festival of Vijayadashami, often referred to as Dussehra, Dasara, or Dashain, is one of the most important occasions.
Dussehra is celebrated as the victory of Rama, a Vishnu avatar, over the ten-headed demon king Ravana, who kidnapped Rama’s wife, Sita.
The terms dasha (“ten”) and hara (“defeat”) in Sanskrit are the source of the festival’s name.
Dussehra, which commemorates the triumph of good over evil, is observed on the tenth day of Ashvina (September–October), the seventh month of the Hindu calendar, at the time of the full moon, often known as the “bright fortnight” (shukla paksha).
The nine-day Navratri festival comes to an end on Dussehra, which also falls on the tenth day of the Durga Puja holiday.
Many people start getting ready for Diwali, which falls 20 days following Dussehra.
Dussehra: History
The Hindu epic Ramayana, which tells the story of Lord Rama, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, killing the ten-headed monster Ravana in the Sat-yuga after Ravana kidnapped Lord Rama’s wife Sita, is the origin of the Dussehra festival
With the assistance of his brother Lakshman and his devotee Hanuman, Lord Rama travelled all the way to Lanka (Ravana’s realm) in order to confront Ravana and win Sita back.
In order to receive the protection of the goddess of courage and strength, Rama prayed to Durga while they were on the journey.
Finally, Lord Rama defeated evil by killing Ravana.
To commemorate this day, people mark Vijayadashami or the Dussehra festival, and Dussehra celebrations are held all around the country.
Dussehra: Celebrations
The reasons for commemorating Dussehra celebrations vary across the Indian subcontinent.
Vijayadashami, which is celebrated in parts of southern, eastern, northeastern, and some of northern India, commemorates the end of Durga Puja.
This honours the goddess Durga’s victory over the beastly bull Mahishasura to uphold and restore dharma.
In the states in the north, centre, and west, the occasion is frequently referred to as Dussehra (also spelled Dasara, Dashahara).
It symbolises Rama’s victory over Ravana and the conclusion of Ramlila.
Alternately, it represents adoration for one of the goddess Devi’s identities, such Durga or Saraswati.
What Should We Do On Dussehra In School?
There are a lot of things for students to do in order to inculcate festive values in them. Here are a few points on how is dussehra celebrated
- Storytelling- talk about the history of Dussehra festival
- Role play- enact a play about the story of Dussehra
- Collage making
- Making their own Ravana
- Dandiya night
- Garba night for Dussehra celebrations
What is Dussehra?
Dussehra (Vijayadashami, Durgotsav) is a Hindu festival that marks the culmination of a 9 day period of festivities called navratri (nine nights), with Dussehra being the 10th.
Generally speaking, Dussehra is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil but is also the beginning of the harvest season in India and so people invoke the Mother Goddess to watch over the new harvest season and rejuvenate the fertility of the soil.
This festival is celebrated in all regions of India but different communities choose to observe it in different ways.
The dates of this festival are determined according to the lunar calendar and hence it falls on a different date of the Gregorian calendar every year.
What is the story behind Dussehra?
Ancient Hindu mythology extensively deals with the struggle between good and evil, that is the struggle between the asuras (daemons) and devas (gods).
The navratri story is of one such asura called Mahishasura, who invaded heaven defeating Indra and driving the devas out of heaven.
The gods decided to combine all their powers to create a powerful being that would be able to destroy Mahishasura.
The powerful being they created was called Durga and they bestowed upon her their super-weapons.
Navratri is said to be the 9 days of battle between Durga and Mahishasura where the goddess finally destroyed the daemon on the 10th day.
It is also believed that on this day Ram, along with Hanuman and an army of vanaras (monkey-like humanoids) defeated the daemon Ravana.
They waged this battle in order to rescue Ram’s wife Sita, whom the evil rakshasa had cunningly kidnapped and imprisoned in his palace on the island fortress of Lanka.
How do we celebrate Dussehra?
Durga Puja –
Durga Puja is a prayer service offered to the goddess Durga and is the primary form of how this festival is celebrated.
The largest celebrations of Durga Puja happens in Bengal where worshipers set up elaborate pandals and install an effigy of the goddess within it.
During the 6 days preceding Dussehra, people give offerings in the form of prayers, and flowers.
On the 7th day these idols are submerged in a water body to symbolise the return of Durga to her husband Shiva, who lives in the Himalayas.
Dandiya Raas –
Dandiya Raas is another way in which people celebrate Dussehra.
Dandiya is a traditional dance played by men and women who wield short sticks in each hand, hitting them together to the beat of a dhol.
It is nicknamed ‘the sword dance’ because this dance form is a mock-staging of the battle between Mahishasura and Durga.
It originated in the state of Gujarat but has become popular all over India.
Ramlila –
In most parts of northern India and some parts of Maharashtra, a popular way of observing Dussehra is a re-enactment of the Ramayana called the Ramlila.
Since the Ramayana is an epic, only the highlights of the Ram’s life is featured and is timed such that the battle scene between Ram and Ravana, with the ultimate defeat of evil occurring on Vijayadashami.
On the last and final day of Dussehra tall effigies of Ravana, along with his son and brother are burned with much pomp and show.
Dussehra Festival
The festival that signifies the triumph of good over evil, Dussehra, is one of the most noteworthy Indian festivals.
It is observed on the tenth day of Navaratri.
This festival is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Lord Rama over the demon Ravana.
This holy festival is the occasion to hold in the highest regards, the virtues of Lord Rama, who is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu (The ‘Presever’ god in Hindu Trinity).
Dussehra strengthens the vows of devotees to follow the path and deeds of Lord Rama.
Legend behind Dussehra Festival
The pious Hindu epic Ramayana unfolds the legendary tale of Lord Rama winning his beloved wife Sita, who was abducted by demon Ravana, the emperor of Lanka.
According to Hindu mythology, Shoorpnakha, the sister of Ravana, fell in love with Rama and Lakshmana (Rama’s younger brother), and wanted to marry any one of them.
After being refused by both, she threatened them to kill Sita. Lakshamana, in anger, cut her ears and nose.
This lead to Ravana abducting Sita in order to take revenge of her sister.
To rescue Sita, Rama and Lakshmana fought a battle with Ravana in Lanka.
Lord Hanuman and an enormous army of monkeys helped the brothers.
There is also a reference associated with the celebration of Dussehra festival in the great epic Mahabharata. With different unique weapons, Pandavas fought with several evil forces.
These five brothers abandoned their weaponries and left into one-year exile.
After returning from exile, they found their weapons under the Shami Tree under which they had buried them before going off for exile.
Pandavas worshipped the tree before their battle in which they emerged victorious.
This legend is also memorialized at the time of Dussehra Festival.
Celebrations of Dussehra in India
Dussehra is celebrated in a distinct way with great fervor across the nation. The different methods of celebrating this festival in different regions are:
Celebrating Dussehra in North India
Dussehra is normally celebrated by flaming the effigies of Ravana, Meghanatha and Kumbhakarna.
With this burning, the play Ramleela, displaying the story of Ramayana, also comes to an end.
Generally, a fete is also organized for the people.
Three individuals enacting Rama, Lakshamana and Sita sitting on a chariot, pass through the crowd.
The artist performing Rama’s role aims the arrow in order to burn all the three effigies separately.
Celebrating Dussehra in South India
Dussehra is celebrated in a distinctive manner in the Southern part of India. On this festive day, toys and dolls are decorated in all the houses.
This ritual had commenced from the abode of emperors in erstwhile era.
This day is popular as Gombe Habba in South India. In olden times, Dussehra was limited to the well-off people.
However, it gained regard with time and reached to the common people as well.
Celebrating Dussehra in Gujarat
The people of Gujarat assemble and dance on each night during Navaratri. Several competitions are held on the Dussehra festival and men and women perform a unique Gujarati dance ‘Garba’ on devotional songs.
This dance continues till late night. In various places, this dance continues even till the break of dawn.
Women put on their best clothes and decorate earthen pots wonderfully.
Celebrating Dussehra in Mysore
In Mysore, several fairs and cultural performances are organized.
The grand parade of bedecked elephants and guards sitting on a horseback, escort the idol of Goddess through the city.
This parade is the major highlight of the ten-day celebration of Dussehra in Mysore.
Celebrating Dussehra in Kullu
In Kullu, chariots are decorated with amazing hues.
Goddess deities are taken around on these beautiful chariots and people dance with joy and elation to rejoice the festive day of Dussehra.
Dussehra Festival in India: Everything You Need to Know
Dussehra marks the end of Navaratri, a nine-day long festivity dedicated to the Hindu warrior goddess Durga.
While the celebrations vary with each different region in India, the deep significance of the festival is constant.
It is a reminder to do away with evil and live in harmony.
Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana
Lord Rama was engaged in a battle against the demon Ravana for nine continuous days.
On the tenth day, Rama was able to achieve victory and rescue his kidnapped wife Sita from Ravana’s clutches with the help of an army of monkeys lead by Rama’s loyal devotee Hanuman.
The end of the demon from Lanka is celebrated as the obliteration of evil from the world.
Burning of Ravana’s effigy
The burning of massive Ravana effigies is a major part of Dussehra celebrations, especially in the northern and western states of India.
Ravana is believed to have had ten heads, each head representative of one evil.
The incineration of the image of the demon symbolises the cleansing of these sins.
Along with Ravana, the effigies of his brothers Meghanada and Kumbakaran are also set alight.
The triumph of goddess Durga
In the eastern part of India, Dussehra is called Vijayadashami and is celebrated as the day goddess Durga defeated the buffalo demon Mahishasura and returned to the heavenly abode.
Mahishasura was a crafty shape-shifting demon whom no man could kill and had even defeated an army of gods lead by Indra, the king of heaven.
When Durga finally prevailed over Mahishasura, evil forces were banished from the world.
Symbolic of a new beginning
While there are two different legends about two different Hindu gods, the essence of both are the same— the victory of virtue over vice.
In Sanskrit, the word ‘dus’ means evil or sinful and ‘hara’ means destroying.
Dussehra, thus, represents the restoration of peace after anarchy and the ushering in of a new era of righteousness.
A shift in harvest season
Dusherra also holds agricultural importance as it signals the coming of winter and a change in crop season. In the state of Maharashtra, there is a widespread belief that the region’s greatest ruler, Shivaji, sent his soldiers to the aid of farmers in order to ensure there was sufficient food supply. After Dusherra, these soldiers would return to their military posts once again.
Lively theatrical performances
One of the highlights of Dussehra celebration, in many parts of the country, is the dramaticisation of the story of Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana.
Called the Ramlila, these stage performances are based on the epic poem Ramacharitmanas, written by the revered poet Tulsidas.
At times, these performances can take place over nine days and in holy cities like Varanasi, there’s a Ramlila every single evening for an entire month.
Celebrations at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi
In the capital city, if there’s one place to truly soak in the spirit of Dussehra Festival, it’s at the vast grounds of Ramlila Maidan, near the Red Fort.
The Hindu soldiers in Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s army are said to have performed Ramlila close to the modern venue.
Even today the celebrations at Ramlila Maidan are a show of communal harmony as both Hindu and Muslim artists and performers from different parts of India come together here to celebrate Dussehra.
Buddhism and Dussehra
Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty, who ruled over India during the third century, was one of the most influential proponents of Buddhism in south-east Asia.
He converted to Buddhism after being deeply affected by the ravages of war.
The Buddhists observe Dussehra as the day Ashoka converted to their religion.
Dussehra in Nepal
Within the Nepali community around the world, Dussehra is known as Dasain. During this festival, families are reunited and the eldest members shower their blessings on the younger generations with tika, which is a rice based paste worn on the forehead.
New clothes are worn on this day and young ones receive money from their elders for good fortune.
Dussehra
Dussehra or Vijayadashmi, the nine-day holiday of Navratri ends with the celebration.
Vijayadashami will be performed in India on Tuesday, October 24, .
On this day, preparations for Diwali, which will be celebrated in after 20 days of Dussehra, also get underway.
The nine-day celebration commemorating all of Goddess Durga’s births comes to an end on Dussehra, the final day of Navratri. The Moment of Glory or Vijayadashami are other names for it.
While some associate it with the epic conflict of the Ramayana, others celebrate it to honor Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura.
History of Vijayadashami
There are several mythologies associated with Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, all of which center on the triumph of virtue over evil.
It is frequently claimed that the account of Rama’s triumph over Ravana dates back to 5114 BC.
According to this well-known Hindu holiday, Lord Rama, Lord Vishnu’s eighth manifestation, vanquished the demon Ravana, who had 10 heads. To battle Ravana and retrieve Sita, Rama’s wife, Lord Rama traveled to his realm with the help of his brother Lakshman and ally Hanuman.
Rama appealed to Durga along the road and ultimately prevailed.
The original Durga Puja celebrations were first reported in Dinajpur and Malda circa 1500 BC.
The death of the demon Mahidhasur by Goddess Durga is usually mentioned throughout these practices.
Dussehra / Vijayadashami Tradition & Culture
Indians travel to Prayagraj/Allahabad, Garhmukteshwar, Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Varanasi for Ganga Dussehra to immerse themselves in the Ganga’s holy waters.
Particularly Varanasi is well known for its exuberant Ganga Dussehra celebrations.
- Burning of Ravana’s statue during the Ramlila performances
- paying homage to the goddess Durga
- Waxing Glorious of Weapons
Numerous devotees actively participate in both the mesmerizing Ganga Aarti ceremony held at the Dasaswamedh Ghat and the traditional act of taking a bath in the river.
Dussehra Vijayadashami Celebrations
Vijayadashami has plenty of tales that describe the importance of the festival. Dussehra is a holiday observed in North India in line with the Ramayana.
Ayodhya’s Prince Rama was exiled from his kingdom.
He and his sibling Lakshmana lived in exile in the bush with Rama’s wife Sita. Rama stormed Lanka to save her with the help of Lakshmana and an army of monkeys.
For several days, the two armies engaged in a brutal conflict.
Rama found it very challenging to defeat the strong Ravana.
As a result, he prayed for nine days to nine different manifestations of the goddess Durga, growing stronger till he could fight Ravana.
Legends of Dussehra/ Vijayadashami
The Dussehra/ Vijayadashami celebration commemorates Lord Rama’s victory against Ravana.
It also commemorates Goddess Durga’s victory over the demonic Mahishasura.
- The legends of Goddess Durga defeating Mahishasura and Lord Rama defeating Ravana are two popular Dussehra tales.
- On this day in history, Lord Ram is reported to have defeated Ravana, the king of Lanka. Lord Ram finally vanquished Ravana after ten days of ferocious combat.
- Since Goddess Durga is said to have conquered the demon Mahishasura, today is regarded as the day when good prevails over evil.
Facts About Vijayadashami
Why are the symbols submerged?
On Vijayadashami, immersing the idol represents how a god transitions from formlessness (clay) to form (the idol), and again back to formlessness in water, giving harmony to the natural world and cosmic energy.
Famous Kullu Dussehra
500,000 visitors from all over the world attend the Kullu Dussehra festival in Himachal Pradesh, India, which is an international event.
The actual conflict is within ourselves.
Vijayadashami is mostly about spiritual development. Each of us is engaged in a conflict between good and evil, and we must work to overcome this negativity.
Why did Ravana have ten heads?
The 10 heads of Ravana stand for his understanding of the six “Shastras” and the four “Vedas.” However, some claim that they symbolize the 10 sins of humanity that we must burn symbolically in order to achieve forgiveness.
Dussehra: Ten things you should know about the festival
Vijayadashami or Dussehra, actually marks two celebrations in India, first the victory of Rama over Ravana, and the victory of goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura
Here are the 10 important things that we should know about the Vijayadashami:
1. On this very day Lord Rama has defeated Ravana after nine days of battle. It is also known as Dussehra, a Sanskrit word which means ‘The sun will not rise’. There is a mythological belief that the sun would not have risen had Rama not defeated Ravana.
2. Indians burn Ravana effigies on Dussehra. Burning of the effigy of Ravana is also symbolic of the cleansing of one’s soul of sin. These 10 head represents 10 bad qualities, such as Ahankara (Ego), Amanavta (Cruelty), Anyaaya (Injustice), Kama vasana (Lust), Krodha (Anger), Lobha (Greed), Mada (Over Pride), Matsara (Jealousy), Moha,(Attachment) and Swartha (Selfishness)
3. Vijayadashami originates from the combination of two words: Vijaya (meaning victory in Sanskrit) and dashami (the 10th day of the lunar calendar). It signifies the day that Durga defeated the demon Mahishasura.
4. Vijayadashami is the last day of Durga Puja. Durga Puja, which marks the annual visit of goddess Durga to her father’s place with her children Karthika and Ganesha. On Dashami, she returns to home to her husband,
5. This day also marks a shift in season. After summer and monsoons, it marks the onset of winter. Farmers also harvest the kharif crop after Dussehra.
6. Usually all the former Prime Ministers used celebrate Vijayadashami at Ramleela Maidan of Delhi. But this is the first time when an Indian PM is not present at Ramleela maidan, where effigy of Ravana burns every year.
7. Buddhists people celebrate this day as Ashok Vijayadashami, as it is believed that Mauryan King Ashoka was converted to buddhism on this day. It’s also the day that Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar converted to Buddhism in 1956, which fell on 14 October that year.
8. It is said that the first grand celebration of Dussehra took place at some time in the 17th century at eth behest of the King of Mysore. It was from then onwards that this festival has been celebrated around India with great energy and enthusiasm.
9. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS) celeberate its foundation day on Vijayadashami. As on this very day the first meeting of RSS took place at Nagpur in 1925.