Dussehra is observed with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm by the Hindus. It is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Lord Rama over demon king Ravana of Lanka.
Celebrations on Dussehra
A common feature of the celebrations during Dussehra is the burning of effigies of Ravana as a sign of the destruction of evil. In places like Rajasthan, huge effigies of Ravana are created several months before this festival is held. Craftsmen are also asked to create idols of Ravana’s brother, Kumbhakaran and son, Meghnad. On the day of the festival, these idols are burned in huge grounds or ‘maidans’ in the midst of several thousands of people who reach there to witness it.
The burning of these effigies signifies that people are getting rid of their evil deeds and will now be performing good deeds. Aside from the destruction of these idols, a number of fairs and exhibitions form a part of Dussehra celebrations.
In Himachal Pradesh, Dussehra celebrations go on for a week in the town of Kullu. Deities from the temples in Kullu are brought in to offer homage to the reigning deity, Lord Rama or Raghunathji.
In Tamil Nadu, Dussehra celebrations include the worship of three goddesses – Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Durga. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped for the first three days after which Goddess Sarawati is worshipped for another three days. During the last three days, Goddess Durga is worshipped. So, Dussehra gives the people of Tamil Nadu the opportunity to pay their respect and homage to the goddesses of wealth, learning, and strength.
Dussehra celebration in Mysore is one of the biggest of its kind. The whole of Mysore Palace is illuminated during this festival. Processions of elephants dressed in colorful clothes and decorated with embellishments are taken out during this festive occasion. Thousands of people join on the streets to witness this event.
An important part of the celebrations of Dussehra is the Ramlila. This is a kind of drama where people enact the story of Ramayana, especially the way Lord Rama killed Ravana and saved his wife from the latter who had kidnapped her. Aside from the Ramlila, the Shami tree and Aapta tree are worshipped during the festival of Dussehra. People also exchange the leaves of Aapta tree and Shami tree, which is considered to be auspicious. Some people perform a puja regarding their work-related tools and cooking appliances during this festival.
This is how the festival of Dussehra is celebrated in different regions of India.
Celebrate the victory of Goodness Over Evil and send Dussehra greetings and cards to your friends and dear ones.