Happy Dussehra History Saturday, October 12, 2024 | Download Images Wishes Posters & Quotes

India is known for it’s religious festivals, one of which is Dussehra also known by the name Vijaya Dashami, Dasara, or Dashain. Dussehra marks the end of Durga Puja people in eastern and north-eastern states of India, for western states of India, it comes after Navaratri.

Vijaya Dashami, Vijaya—meaning Victory and Dashami—tenth, connoting the festival on the tenth day celebrating the victory of good over evil. According to Ramayana, Lord Rama, the prince of Ayodhya, had fought for 10-days with Ravana and achieved victory over him whose deeds were evil and sinful and thus freeing his wife Sita, who was held Ravana’s captive. Since then this day is celebrated in honour of Rama, by burning effigy of Ravana across India. After 20 days, Rama returns to Ayodhya and thus Diwali is celebrated which is festival of Joy and Light.

Dussehra is celebrated with much intensity and excitement in the northern states of Varanasi, Ayodhya, Vrindavan, Madhubani, Almora and other cities of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand. Specially in Gujarat, people enjoy this day by eating fafda and jalebi (sweet dish). Fasting and prayers at temples are common. A regional dance called Dandia Ras, that deploys colorfully decorated sticks, and Garba that is dancing in traditional dress is a part of the festivities through the night.

In Eastern India Vijaya Dasami is observed after Navratri, on the tenth day, marked by a great procession where the clay statues are ceremoniously walked to a river or ocean coast for a solemn goodbye to Durga. Many mark their faces with vermilion (sindoor) or dress in something red. It is an emotional day for some devotees, and the congregation sings emotional goodbye hyms. When the procession reaches the water, Durga is immersed, the clay dissolves, and she is believed to return to Mount Kailasha with Shiva and cosmos in general. People distribute sweets and gifts, visit their friends and family members.

In many places, the "Rama Lila", or the brief version of the story of Rama, Sita and Lakshamana, is enacted over the 9 days before it, but in some cities such as Varanasi the entire story is freely acted out by performance-artists before the public every evening for a month.

The play involves, birth of Rama who was the eldest son of king of Ayodhya, Dasharatha. Rama marries Sita and some time later, Kaikeyi the youngest queen, tells Dasharatha to banish Rama to forest for 14 years and Baratha should be crowned in Rama’s place. One day Ravana abducts Sita and forces to marry him. Later the prince met a group of monkey who say Sita fly away in a golden chariot and had dropped ornaments among these monkeys there was Hanuman. With the help of Hanuman and his monkey friends, Rama is able to fight with Ravana. Although the fight was not easy, Ravana was given boon from Brahma, he asked for absolute invulnerability from and supremacy over gods, heavenly spirits, other rakshasas, serpents, and wild beasts. Despite this Ravana was defeated and this signifies Victory over Evil.