How various communities celebrate Dussehra Festival in India?

Dussehra is one of the most colorful festivals of India, celebrated in unique ways across the country. From effigy burning prevalent in north and central India to Dandiya Raas dance in Gujarat and the majestic Mysore Dasara parade, the festive shows the unity of various colors and cultures of India. Signifying the essence of victory or good over evil Dussehra celebrations attract people from across the globe to visit India. Let us look at the various Dussehra celebrations in the country.

Dussehra celebration in Mysore Karnataka

Mysore Dasara is one of the most colorful festive celebrations in India. Unlike most other places where Dussehra is celebrated only for a day, Mysore Dasara celebrations continue for a period of 10 days. Celebrated in the city of Mysore, the festival is celebrated on a massive scale with royal celebrations and lightings.

In the North, Dussehra is celebrated as a mark of victory celebration of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana. In Mysore, Dasara is celebrated to honor Goddess Chamudeswari for killing the demon Mahisasur. The festive celebrations include various events like heritage walks, film festivals, food festivals and sports championships on a massive scale on the last day with a royal parade turning into a colorful procession starting from Mysore Palace to Bannimantap.

Ayudha Pooja is celebrated on Dussehra day as a mark of respect for Goddess Chamundeswari. The festival is celebrated by worshiping of arms, weapons including ammunition, guns and other associated hardware. Since Goddess Chamundeswari killed the demon Mahishasura on this day, the belief is that weapons were no longer required and were kept aside after due worship. To this day Ayudha Pooja is celebrated across Karnataka as a weapon worship day.

Dasara Doll Festival-South India

Dasara Doll festival known as Bombe Habba in Kannada, Bommala Koluvu in Telegu and Bommao Kolu in Tamil is a traditional toy festival celebrated across the southern states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Exhibitions of various dolls and figurines are facilitated during the festival and arranged on a platform with odd number of steps. Usually the platforms have 9 steps corresponding to the 9 navrataras of the Goddess. The dolls are worshipped each day during the celebrations.

Gujarat-Dandiya Nights or Dandiya Raas

Dandiya, also known as Dandiya Raas is a popular dance festival of Gujarat that celebrates the nine days of Navratras festival ending with Dussehra celebrations. The festival is celebrated to pay homage to the Mother Goddess or Mata Amb. Both men and women wear special dance attire to participate in the Dandiya Raas festival and use bamboo sticks as props while dancing. The dance is very fast paced and energetic symbolizing the energy and zeal of the Goddess to kill various demons.

Durga puja in Kolkata 

Durga Puja, as the name suggests is the ceremonial worshipping of Goddess Durga during the ten day Navratas festival. The first Durga Puja pandal was facilitated in Bengal and the state continues to be the hub of Durga Puja in the country. Durga Puja is celebrated as a community puja with people celebrating and worshipping the Goddess for nine days. Festive food and colors mark all durga Puja Pandals making it one of the most colorful festive celebrations in the country.

Dussehra celebrations in Delhi

Burning the effigy of demon kind Ravana is by far the most synonymous Dussehra celebrations in the country. It is believed that Lord Rama killed the demon King Ravana on this day and an effigy is burned to honor the victory of truth and righteousness over evil. Ravana effigy is burned just before the sunset on Dussehra day.

Tradition of writing on rice on Vijayadashami

The tenth day of Dussehra celebrations also known as Vidyarambam is celebrated in southern most states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. People worship goddess Saraswati while removing books, pens and all musical instruments out from their home. Literates or house elders then write a few alphabets or sentences from religious scriptures marking the inflow of wisdom in the household. Vidyarambam day is considered to be one of the most auspicious days to start any new learning including art forms.