Celebrating Dussehra in India
Dussehra in India is one of the popular festivals celebrated by the folks with great joy and enthusiasm. Dussehra festival is celebrated on the victory of Lord Ram over Ravan. This festival is believed to remove the bad fate from the people and marks the victory of good over evil. This festival is celebrated with lot of enthusiasm since it marks the homecoming of Lord Ram. Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day of Shukla Paksh, the bright star Aswin, followed by the Hindu calendar. This festival falls between the month of October and November. The tenth day of Dussehra 2011 falls on October 6th.
History of Dussehra in India
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In the Northern parts of India, the history of Dussehra began when Lord Rama pledged a war against Ravan who had abducted Ram’s wife Sita to his kingdom of Lanka and this lasted for ten days. Lord Rama waged a war after seeking blessings from goddess durga and he was succeeded over Ravan the king of Lanka. Since then, Dussehra celebration has been performed by the people to seek equivalent blessings from the goddess of power and courage.
In South India the legend behind the south indians celebration of Dussehra festival was when Mahishasura was undefeatable even by Lord Brahma- the creator, Lord Vishnu-the protector and Lord Shiva- the destroyer who are well known as the almighty dieties of hindus. Goddess Durga was powered to destroy the demon Mahishasura. The victory of goddess durga over mahishasura is celebrated as Vijayadashami or Nava Ratri. Nine nights are spent in worshipping goddess Durga.
How do people perform Dussehra in India?
The preperation for performing on Dussehra in North India are taken initiavtive by the drama schools and drama troupes. These troupes perform on the legend history of Lord Rama, “Rama Leela” for ten days . On the tenth day, the effigies of Ravan are fired in the big processions. In down south the families decorate dolls or “Bommai Kolu” and decorate the dolls and god with rich lightings, lamps and flowers all over the house. Women exchange gifts, fruits and also sweets are distributed.
In South India, Mysore Dussehra is celebrated for ten days wherein various cultural celebrations are performed at the “dubar house” in Mysore Palace. On the tenth day processions and parades are performed and the well decorated elephants carry goddess Chamundeshwari all over the mysore city.
In the Easterns states of India, Dussehra is celebrated as Durga Puja for five days in the temple and in the open grounds. The devotees celebrate this festival by wearing new clothes and ornaments on all the five days and also perform dance, dramas and offer prayers to the goddess. The clay idol of the goddess is immersed in the rivers on the last day.
People enjoy preparing delicious sweets like Khaja;the delicacy of Bihar, India. Sweet vermicilli and Paala Bellam Pongal and also all kind of delicious spicy foods.
Events and Celebration for Dussehra
- Enacting a drama from a short version of epic Ramayana, “Ram Leela”.
- Huge processions of Goddess Chamundeshwari throne mounted on elephants and also cultural events like dance, drama, music concerts by experts will be performed in “Nada Habba” in the Mysore town in Karnataka state, India.
- Paper and wood effigies of the King of Lanka Ravan is burnt in the processions on the tenth day in Northern states in India.
- Outdoor Fares like Melas of sweets, clothes, goddess idols are held all over India.
Dussehra Celebration 2011
Dussehra in India is celebrated with lot of pomp and devotion. This festival is celebrated to please the almighty godess “Durga”. In India celebration is very grand and government holiday is declared on 6th of October 2011. Many believe in India that this festive marks the lucky start over enterprising new venture and projects.
