Dussehra 2024:
Indians have a special place in their hearts for Dussehra, also known as “Vijayadashami,” which is undoubtedly the most significant festival. The end of Durga Puja’s nine-day celebration of Navratri festivities signifies a significant day in mythology when the powers of righteousness defeated evil. This day marks the victory of Lord Rama who overpowered the demon Ravana and his ill-intentioned forces. It is joyfully celebrated as Vijay Dashami which translates to the ‘Day of Victory’. This festival also celebrates the victory of Durga over Mahishasura’s powerful army and the victory over this buffalo demon. The festival enjoyed all over India is full of fun and holds a good lesson that good always triumphs over bad.
Importance of Dussehra:
Diwali celebrations begin right after Dussehra. It begins twenty days before the light-filled celebrations honoring Lord Rama, Maa Sita, and Lord Lakshman’s return. The message of Vijayadashami is that light wins over darkness and good defeats evil.
Hindus celebrate this day by worshiping God, and seeking prosperity and good health. Furthermore, worshiping the Shami tree on Vijayadashami is very significant in some parts of the country, as it is believed that Arjun hid his weapons within the Shami tree during his exile.
Dussehra Puja Rituals:
Shami Puja: Lord Rama sought divine help for victory at a Shami tree before his journey to Lanka. People now pay tribute to the Shami tree during Aparahna Muhurat on Dussehra. The tree also played a key role for the Pandavas keeping Arjun’s Dhanas safe for a full year while they stayed hidden. If you follow the rituals, you can eliminate rivals and atone for your misdeeds. Worshiping the Shami Puja is seen as a significant Dussehra ritual.
Devi Aparajita Puja: This puja gives you the strength to defeat your adversaries and live a prosperous life. According to mythology, Lord Rama’s prayer to Devi Aparajita allowed him to defeat the demon Ravana. Devi Aparajita Puja is therefore performed to guarantee a safe and happy journey before beginning any task or embarking on a journey.
Avalanghan Seema: Crossing the line is a practice that represents expanding one’s perspectives and overcoming limitations.
Ayudha Puja or Shastra Puja: The goddess Durga vanquished a demon during Vijayadashami. The gods worshiped her weapons after her victory. On this day, devotees worship their own tools and weapons, presenting them to the goddess as a sign of respect.
The Tales of Dussehra:
Lord Rama and Ravana:
Hindus celebrate Dussehra based on the story of Ramayana. According to legend, Lord Rama’s wife Sita was captured by Ravana, the demon king and caused his death. The conflict between good and evil is the crux of this story. Ravana was a symbol of the evils of anger, rage, jealousy and greed in the world but many depict Lord Rama as the embodiment of justice and righteousness.
In the story, he proved that focusing on the matters that counted and which were positive can always overcome the negative. With the war between Rama and Ravana, it is understood that the forces of good will always overcome the force of evil. According to me, the triumph of good over evil that is justice and truth over the deceitfulness and unfairness depicted through the burning of Ravana’s effigy is the essence of Dussehra.
It reminds everyone to always stand against evil and never give up on their fears. The courageous conflict between Lord Rama and the demon king Ravana provides a lesson in bravery, endurance, and confidence.
The fierce Pandavas :
After their relatives, the Kauravas, kicked out the Pandavas for losing everything in a dice game, they had to live as Vanvas for twelve years and in darkness for one year. They spent more than twelve years in the forest, but kept their divine weapons hidden in a shami tree for a whole year and decided to stay in the realm of Virata. The Pandavas hid for a year, but when the Kaurava army invaded the kingdom of Virata, they took their weapons from the shami tree and disguised themselves. In the first battle before the battle of Kurukshetra, the army of the Kauravas fell in battle.
Goddess Durga:
In the northern and eastern parts of India, people tell another popular myth in which Goddess Durga destroys the demon Mahishasura to restore harmony to the planet. They celebrate the Navratri festival because the war between the goddess and the demon lasts ten days. On the tenth day, Goddess Durga defeated Mahishasura, and this day is celebrated as Vijayadashmi, which translates to “Victory achieved on the tenth day.” In the northern and western parts of the region, people fast as they worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga; Each of the nine days preceding Vijayadashami is dedicated to the manifestation of a goddess with special powers.
Why is Dussehra referred to as Vijayadashami?
Another name for Dussehra is Vijayadashami, which means “the tenth day of victory” in Sanskrit. While people in West Bengal are familiar with the word Vijayadashami, the word Dussehra is more widely used in the north Indian states of Karnataka. Bengalis celebrate Durga Visarjan, where devotees take an idol of Maa Durga and dip it in holy water in her memory. Marking the end of the nine-day Durga Puja festival, Durga Visarjan is a very emotional event. The Durga Visarjan party is a wonderful and joyful festival. Devotees carry the idol of Maa Durga through the streets chanting and dancing to traditional songs.Musicians and drummers attract many people from all walks of life to watch the parade.
People name Dussehra as Vijayadashami for many reasons, a few of which are memorable:
1. The victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. In the Ramayana, the antagonist, Ravana, kidnaps Rama’s wife, Sita and this instigates a battle between Rama and his companions on one side, and Ravana on the other. Finally Rama has the duel with Ravana and after a long battle kills him and rescues Sita. The festival of Dussehra celebrates victory of nice or good over evil or bad.
2. It depicts the victory of Durga Devi over Mahishasura. In Hindu mythology, there is a largely concentrated belief in a deity called Durga who is normally depicted as a fighting deity always fighting the forces of evil. The tale which brought Durga into fame is the killing of Mahishasura during the festival of Dussehra.
3. The Navratri festival ends on the ninth day. The tenth is the last day of victory known as Dussehra.. During the festival of Navratri, people celebrate the Hindu goddess Shakti in her different avatars.
Ravana Dahan:
One of the main attractions of the Dussehra event is the Ravana Dahan, where families eagerly gather to witness flaming arrows being aimed at effigies of Ravana, Meghnad, and Kumbhkaran, which are stuffed with crackers. In recent years, efforts have been made to plan Ravana Dahan events more sustainably by using lights and lasers to reduce noise and air pollution.
The following are some dos and don’ts for Ravan Dahan:
1. Normally children even if they are very young develop that kind of feeling in which they feel happy when they hear crackers exploding. Although, to be safe from getting burnt as well, one must distance themselves a little from these burning effigies.
2. Do not overcrowd, functions can turn into disasters or stampedes may occur.
3. Be aware of lower escape doors for safe escape in an emergency.
4. Wear a mask to protect yourself from the fumes and reduce the chances of getting infections at times.
5. Instead of shooting flaming arrows at the statues of Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghnada to eliminate air and noise pollution, consider using lasers and lights to simulate the story of Ravana’s burning.
