Dussehra

A major festival of Hindus, Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day of Hindu Lunar month of Ashvin, which falls in the month of September or October as per Western Calendar.

Dussehra mark the triumph of good over evil and beginning of harvest season in India. Dussehra follows nine day long festival of Navratri and is celebrated in varied ways throughout the country.

The rites and rituals performed by people on Dussehra vary from region to region, though the underlying spirit of festivities remains the same through-out the country.

Fairs are organised all over India where people gather in huge no. to witness the burning of effigies of demon king Ravana, his son Meghnad and brother Kumbhkaran.

While burning of effigies symbolises killing of evil within one’s self, Dussehra is believed to be auspicious to make new beginnings in terms of starting a new venture, new business or a new journey.

In the year of 2017, Dussehra is on 30th September.

Victory of Lord Rama over Ravana

Dussehra marks killing of demon king Ravana by Lord Rama.

As the legend goes, while Lord Rama was in exile with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, a demoness named ‘Swaroopnakha’ took a liking of both the brothers and wanted to get married to one of them. While Lakshmana outrightly refused, Lord Rama being married could not have done so. This did not deter Swaroopnakha. When she became insistent, Lakshmana got irated and cut off her nose with a bow and arrow.

Deformed and hurt Swaroopnakha went straight to her brother, demon king Ravana, who was equally outraged by the incident and decided to avenge Lord Rama. Acting in anger, against the advise of his brother Vibhishana, a Rama devotee, Ravana kidnapped Sita and a battle ensued between him and Lord Rama.

Ravana was a very mighty king with tremendous knowledge. He is said to have as much knowledge as ten brains could contain. Having pleased Gods with his knowledge, Ravana had obtained various boons from Gods.

During the battle between Lord Rama and Ravana, Lord Rama performed ‘Chandi Homa’ and to invoke the blessings of Goddess Durga and obtain the secret of how Ravana could be killed.

On the day of Ashvin Shukla Dashami, Rama killed Ravana and found Sita. Centuries later, even today, every year on Dussehra, people gather in huge numbers to burn down the effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhkaran and his son Meghnad.

The burning of effigies symbolises killing of evil within one’s self and reminds one to follow the path of righteousness giving example of Ravana who was destroyed for his evil ways despite his tremendous might, knowledge and majesty.