Dussehra is a major festival of Hindus. Its other names are Vijayadashami and Ayudh-Puja (Arms-worship). It is celebrated on the tenth tithi of Shukla Paksh of Hindi Month Ashwin (Kwar).
What is the story behind Dussehra Celebration?
There are two stories behind its origin and celebration. According to the one story Maa Durga attacked and defeated Mahishasur after nine nights and ten days long war. It is celebrated as the triumph of truth over falsehood. That is why this Dashami is known as ‘Vijayadashmi’.
According to the second story, Dashahara is celebrated as the symbol of Lord Ram’s victory over Devil Ravana. Ravana, the king of Lanka kidnapped the mother Sita, wife of Lord Rama. Then, Lord Rama challenged Ravana for the war. In a fatal war, Lord Rama killed the devil Ravana alond with his brother Kumbhakarna, son Meghanath and other devils.
Both Mahishasur and Ravana are the symbol of evilness and Maa Durga and Lord Rama represents the goodness. Their victory shows the victory of goodness over badness.
Which are the most auspicious dates?
There are three the most auspicious dates of the year, Pratipada of Chaitra Shukla Paksha and Dashami of Ashwin Shukla Paksha. The third one is, also, known as Vijayadashami or Dussehra.
What is done on Dussehra?
On this day, people do weapon-worship and start new work like beginning of letter writing, starting a new industry, sowing seeds etc. It is believed that the work which is started on this day leads to success. In ancient times, kings used to pray for victory on this day and go for battle.
On this day, fairs are held at different places. Ramlila is organized. A huge effigy of Ravana is made and burnt. Dussehra or Vijayadashami is celebrated as the victory of Lord Rama or as Durga Puja, in both the forms it is a festival of power-worship, the date of weapon worship.
It is a festival of enjoyment, gaiety and victory. Indian culture is a worshiper of bravery. The festival of Dussehra has been kept so that valor is manifested in the blood of the individual and the society. The festival of Dussehra gives the inspiration to renounce ten types of sins – lust, anger, greed, delusion, jealousy, ego, laziness, violence and theft.
What is cultural aspect of Dussehra:
Dussehra, also, has a cultural aspect. India is an agricultural country. When a farmer brings home the wealth of food grains after growing a golden crop in his field, his gaiety and ecstasy do not have a limit. On this joyous occasion, he acknowledges the grace of God and worships him to manifest it. All over India, this festival is celebrated in different ways in different states.
In Maharashtra, it is also celebrated as a social festival in the name of ‘Silangan’ on this occasion. At the time of evening, all the villagers, dressed in beautiful new clothes, cross the border of the village and loot ‘gold’ in the form of leaves of the ‘Shami’ tree and come back to their village. Then that gold is exchanged amongst themselves.
How Dussehra is Celebrated in different parts of India?
Dussehra or Vijayadashami is celebrated as the victory of Rama or as Durga Puja. In both the forms, it is the festival of Aadishakti Puja, the day of weapons’ worship. It is a festival of joy and gaiety and victory. It is celebrated in different forms in every nook and corner of the country, but it is also celebrated with equal enthusiasm and gaiety in other countries where overseas Indians live.
Kullu’s Dussehra in Himachal Pradesh:
Kullu’s Dussehra is very famous in Himachal Pradesh. Like other places, preparations for this festival start ten days or a week in advance. Men and women, all dressed in beautiful clothes, go out with the trumpets, bugles, drums, drums, flutes, etc. The hill people worship their village deity by taking out a procession with great pomp. The idols of the deities are beautifully decorated in very attractive palanquins.
Along with this, they also worship their main deity Raghunath ji. Trained dancers perform Nati Dance in this procession. In this way, making a procession, circumambulate the city through the main parts of the city and start the celebration of Dussehra in Kullu city with the worship of the deity Raghunathji. The splendour of this festival is unique on the day of Dashami.
Dussehra in Punjab and Haryana:
In Punjab and Haryana, Dussehra is celebrated by fasting for nine days of Navratri. During this, visitors are welcomed with traditional sweets and gifts. Here also Ravan-Dahan events are organized, and fairs are held in the grounds.
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Dussehra in Bastar:
The people of Bastar do not consider Rama’s victory over Ravana as the reason of Dussehra.
They consider it as a festival dedicated to the worship of Mother Danteshwari. Danteshwari Mata is the adorable goddess of the residents of Bastar region, who is a form of Durga. Here this festival lasts for 75 days. Here, Dussehra runs from the new moon of Shravan month to Shukla Trayodashi [13th day] of Ashwin month.
On the first day, it is called Kachchin Gadi, permission is taken from the goddess to start the ceremony. The goddess is seated on a set of thorns, which is called Kachchin Gadi. This girl belongs to a scheduled caste, from whom the people of the royal family of Bastar take permission. This ceremony started around the 15th century. This is followed by Jogi-sitting, followed by Insider Raini (Vijayadashmi), then, Outsider Raini (Rath Yatra) and finally Muriya Darbar. It ends with the Ohadi festival on Ashwin Shukla Trayodashi [13th day].
Dussehra in Bengal, Orissa and Assam:
In Bengal, Odisha and Assam, this festival is celebrated as Durga Puja. It is the most important festival of Bengalis, Oria and Assamese. It is celebrated all over Bengal for five days. The festival lasts for 4 days in Odisha and Assam. Here Goddess Durga is enshrined in grandly decorated pandals. Eminent artists of the country are called and the idols of Durga are prepared. Along with this, many idols of other gods and goddesses are also made.
Small stalls in the city are also filled with sweets during the festival. Here, on the day of Shashthi, the worship of Maa Durga, invocation and life consecration etc. is organized. After that, the days of Saptami, Ashtami and Navami are spent in the morning and evening in the worship of Durga. On the day of Ashtami, there is great worship and sacrifice. Special puja is organized on the day of Dashami. Prasad is offered and Prasad is distributed.
The men embrace each other, which is called Kolakuli. The women offer vermilion on the forehead of the goddess, and bid her a tearful farewell. Along with this, they also apply vermilion among themselves, and play with vermilion. It is considered very auspicious to see the Neelkanth bird on this day. This immersion journey is also very beautiful and scenic.
There is a lot of movement of devotees on this day at Shakambhari Devi Shaktipeeth in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The entire Shivalik valley resonates with the chants of Shakambhari Devi. There is organised a huge fair in Navaratries, here.
Dussehra in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh:
In Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Dashahara lasts for nine days in which three goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati and Durga are worshipped. For the first three days, Maa Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth and prosperity is worshipped. On the next three days, Maa Saraswati – the goddess of arts and learning is worshipped and on the last day, Maa Durga – the goddess of power is worshipped. The place of worship is well decorated with flowers and lamps. People give each other sweets and clothes.
Dussehra of Mysore:
Dussehra of Mysore in Karnataka is also famous all over India. During Dussehra in Mysore, the streets of the entire city are lit with lights and a grand procession is taken out across the city with elephants adorned. At this time the famous Mysore palace is decorated with lamp like a bride. Along with this, people in the city enjoy the procession of dance and music with torch lights. Ravana-dahan [Burning of Ravana] is not organized in these Dravidian regions.
Dussehra in Gujarat:
In Gujarat, coloured pots decorated with clay are considered a symbol of the goddess and are held by unmarried girls on their heads and perform a popular dance called Garba. Garba dance is the pride of this festival. Men and women dance around by playing two small coloured sticks together to the beat of the music. Devotional, film and traditional folk-music all take place on this occasion. After worship and aarti, Dandiya Raas is organized throughout the night. The purchase of gold and jewellery is considered auspicious during Navratri.
Dussehra in Maharashtra:
In Maharashtra, nine days of Navratri are dedicated to Goddess Durga, while on the tenth day Maa Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, is worshipped. On this day, school going children worship the tantric symbols of Maa Saraswati to get blessings in their studies. This day is considered very auspicious to start anything, especially to start learning. The people of Maharashtra consider this day as an auspicious time for marriage, home entry and buying a new house.
Dussehra in Jammu and Kashmir:
Minority Hindus of Kashmir celebrate the festival of Navratri with reverence. All the adult members of the family fast for nine days by drinking only water. According to a very old tradition, for nine days, people go to visit Mata Kheer Bhavani. This temple is built in the middle of a lake. It is believed that the goddess has told her devotees that if something untoward happens, the water of the lake will turn black.
It is said that just a day before the assassination of Indira Gandhi and before the Indo-Pak war, the water here turned really black.
Dussehra as a festival of victory:
The festival of Dussehra is a festival showing the union of power and might. By worshiping Maa Jagadamba for nine days of Navratri, a person who becomes powerful remains ready for victory. From this point of view, the celebration of Dussehra is the festival of departure for victory.
Indian culture has always been a supporter of valour and bravery. If war is inevitable, then instead of waiting for the attack of the enemy, attacking him and defeating him is efficient politics.
It is marked as a symbol of victory as Lord Rama defeated the devil Ravana on this day.
Maratha Ratna Shivaji had also protected Hinduism by leaving against Aurangzeb on this day. There are many examples in Indian history when Hindu kings used to leave for victory on this day.
Dussehra as Vijaydashami:
This festival is also called ‘Vijayadashami’ after the name ‘Vijaya’ of Bhagwati. On this day, Lord Ramachandra defeated Ravana. That is why, this festival is also called ‘Vijayadashmi’. It is believed that on Ashwin Shukla Dashami there is a Muhurta called ‘Vijay’ at the time of the rising of the stars. This time is auspicious for all tasks. That is why it is also called Vijayadashami.
It is believed that one should leave at this time to conquer the enemy. On this day, the yoga (coincidence) of Shravan Nakshatra is considered even more auspicious. Even when there is no context of war, the kings (people in important positions) should violate the limit during this period. Duryodhana defeated the Pandavas in gambling and gave the condition of exile in the thirteenth year with twelve years of exile. If he was found in the thirteenth year, he would have to undergo another twelve years of exile.
Worship of Shami-Tree on Dussehra:
Arjuna had placed his bow on a Shami tree in this ignorance and himself took a job with King Virat in the guise of Vrihanla. When Virat’s son Dhrishtadyumna took Arjuna with him for cow protection, Arjuna had conquered the enemies by lifting his weapon from the Shami tree. On the day of Vijayadashami, the Shami tree proclaimed the victory of the Lord when Lord Rama was leaving for his ascent to Lanka. That is why, ‘Shami-worship’ is done in Vijaykal i.e. time for victory.
Reference: – The data and facts are taken from Wikipedia and other books.
FAQ
Question 1. When is Dussehra 2022?
Answer- The festival of Dussehra is celebrated every year in the month of Ashwin on the tenth day of Shukla Paksha. According to the Panchang, this year, in 2022, Dashami Tithi is starting from 2:21 pm on October 4th. This date will remain till 12 noon on October 05. So this is the time of Dussehra i.e. Dussehra will be celebrated on October 4, 2022.
Question 2. When is Dussehra Durga Puja?
Answer- According to the Panchang, Dussehra will be celebrated on October 4, 2022 (Tuesday). Maa Durga Bhagwati will come on October 5, 2022 (Wednesday) riding on an elephant. Therefore, the festival of Vijayadashami will be celebrated on October 5, 2022 (Wednesday).
Question 3. What is the significance of Dussehra?
Answer- Dussehra or Vijayadashami or Ayudha-worship is a major festival of Hindus. This festival is celebrated on the tenth day of Shukla Paksha of Ashwin month. On this day, Lord Rama killed Ravana and Goddess Durga defeated Mahishasura after a battle of nine nights and ten days. It is celebrated as the victory of truth over falsehood and the victory of good over evil.
Question-4. How does mother ride come?
Answer- According to the traditions, when the festival of Navratri begins on Monday or Sunday, Durga Maa rides on an elephant. When Navratri begins on a Saturday or Tuesday, Durga ji comes on a horse (horse). When Navratri begins on a Thursday or Friday, Goddess Durga rides in a palanquin (doli).
Answer- According to mythology, Dussehra is celebrated after Navratri as Lord Rama, on the advice of Lord Vishnu, worshiped Goddess Durga before embarking on his journey to defeat Ravana. This festival marks the victory of Shri Ram over King Ravana (Dashanan) of Lanka.
Question-6. Who is worshiped in Dussehra?
Answer – Dussehra is also called Vijayadashami. Lord Shri Ram and Maa Durga are worshiped on this day. It is believed that the work done on this day definitely brings fruit and that fruit is auspicious. It is said that Ayudha-puja (weapon worship) should be performed on this day to get victory over enemies.
