India is home for great cultural diversity with each festival celebrated in this fascinating land having its own significance. Dasara also known as Vijaya Dashami, Dashain or Dussehra is one of the popular Hindu festivals in India. The festival is celebrated on the tenth day of the Hindu autumn lunar month of Ashvin according to the Hindu calendar.it is the tenth day of the nine day long Navratri festival and Dasara celebrates the victory of good over evil. This is one of the most awaited festivals for the Hindus.
Why is Dussehra Celebrated?
Dasara marks the triumph of Lord Rama over the demon King Ravana thus signifying victory of good over evil. It also symbolizes the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasura. The festival is celebrated for 10 days. The nine days before Dasara is called the Navratri. During these nine days the nine forms of goddess Shakti are worshipped. During the first three days goddess Durga or Kali is worshipped. The next three are dedicated foe worshipping Laxmi; the Goddess of wealth and during the last three days Goddess Saraswati who symbolizes wisdom and knowledge is worshipped. The tenth day culminates with Dasara.
How is Dussehra Celebrated
The festival is celebrated with great grandeur in different parts of the country. In Gujarat, the festival’s main highlight is the colourful dandiya dance. In Varanasi and some other places in the north ramlila is very famous. The Ramayana is performed in theatrical enactment for ten days. Fairs are arranged during these days and on the tenth day effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghnath are burnt to signify the victory of good over evil. While in south India the Ayudha puja is performed on the ninth day. On this day books and tools of work are worshipped and taken back the next day. The festival is also celebrated in south by exhibiting colourful toys. Mysore Dasara is also very famous where Goddess Chamundeshwari is worshipped and a grand procession of the goddess is taken out across the city on the golden Ambari on the elephants back. In West Bengal, the festival is celebrated as Durga pooja during which the goddess is worshipped for five days and immersed in the water on the fifth day.
Though the rituals vary from region to region based on the traditions but all festivities carry the same message –victory of good over evil. The festival is also a time to make new beginnings in life as it is considered that new ventures will succeed if stared during Dasara. Overall whole essence of Dasara is to remind us that there is always an end to the evil and the righteousness will always triumph.