Dashera Festival in India

In the months of Ashwin and kartik, Hindus observe a 10
day ceremony of fast, rituals, celebrations, fiests to honor
the mother Goddess and triumph of Lord Rama over
Demon Ravana.

Dussehra also symbolizes the triumph of warrior Goddess
Durga over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura.

Thus, it is a celebration of victory of good over evil.

This celebration starts from Navratri and ends with the
tenth day festival of “Dussehra”. Navratri and Dussehra
is celebrated throughout the country at the same time,
with varying rituals, but with great enthusiasm and energy
as it marks the end of scorching summer and the start of
winter season.

The tenth day after Navratri is called Dussehra, on which
number of fairs are organized throughout the northern
India, burning effigies of Ravana. It is also called “Vijaya-
dashmi” as this day marks the victory of Lord Rama over
Ravana.

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 three-fold
power i.e. physical, mental and spiritual, which helps
him to progress in life without any difficulty.

The 'Ramlila' - an enactment of the life of Lord Rama, is
held during the nine days preceding Dussehra. On the
tenth day (Dussehra or Vijay Dasami), larger than life
effigies of Ravana, his son and brother -Meghnadh and
Kumbhakarna are set to fire.

The theatrical enactment of this dramatic encounter
is held throughout the country in which every section
of people participates enthusiastically.

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.

Legends

Dussehra is also known as Vijaya Dasami, because of the
victory of Ram over Ravana. On this day in Satya Yug,
Ram (the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu), killed
the great demon and king of Lanka, Ravana.

Puranas also opined that in this day warrior Goddess
Durga defeated and killed the buffalo demon Mahishasura.



When is Dussehra?

Dussehra is the last day of Navratri; it falls on the 10th
day of the waxing moon during the Hindu month of Ashvin
(around September or October).

Dussehra in 2009 is on 17 th of October.


SHASHI INDIA