Festivals of India : Dussehra

Oct 8
06:50

2013

Omesh

Omesh

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Dussehra is an important Hindu festival which is celebrated with gazetted and enthusiasm across the country. The other name of Dussehra is Vijayadashami. It is celebrated in the month of September-October.

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Dussehra  (Vijayadashami) in IndiaDussehra is an important Hindu festival which is celebrated with gazetted and enthusiasm across the country. The other name of Dussehra is Vijayadashami.  It is celebrated in the month of September-October. It falls twenty days prior to Diwali. Dusshera signifies the triumph of good over evil.The celebration of Dussehra goes on for continuous ten days.The first nine days/nights are called Navratri (the nine nights) and the tenth day is  celebrated as Dussehra . The festival is celebrated across the country though it is celebrated in different form in different parts of India.Rama's victory over RavanaThere is a legendary story behind the celebration of Dussehra ,Festivals of India : Dussehra   Articles which is recorded in the epic Ramayan. The story goes like,on this very day in the Treta yug, Lord Rama killed the Demon Ravana who had abducted Rama's wife to his palace. Rama was the king of Ayodhya while Ravana was the Lankan king. In order to rescue his wife ,Rama fought a battle with Ravana n killed him. In the battle Rama was assisted by his younger brother Laxamana,follower Hanuman and an army of monkeys. Since  that day this day is celebrated as Dussehra . Durga Mata's victory over MahishasuraThe other story behind Dussehra celebration is the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon  Mahishasura. There was a demon named Mahishasura,who had the power to change himself into a buffalo. His father  Rambha was killed by Indra. In order to take revenge he invaded heaven and fought battle with the heaven king Indra and threw him out of the  Heaven along with the other Devas.Then all the Devas combined their energies together and formed a nemesis in the form of a beautiful ,powerful women, Durga (Shakti). Goddess Durga fought a battle with the demons.The fight continued fourteen days,she killed all the demons and at last challenged Mahishasura for a one-to-one fight. On the tenth day Durga defeated and killed the Demon Mahishasura. Since that day this day is celebrated as Vijayadashami or Dussehra . The day signifies Goddess Durga's victory over Mahishasura and the early nine days/nights are celebrated as Navratri.Dussehra CelebrationHindus  worship their Gods on the day of Dussehra and also offer prayer and food to them. Some people also worship their tools,machineries,books and other office tools on this day.Some start new ventures at this time.The farmers worship goddess Durga and pray for a good harvest in the coming season.On the day of Dussehra fairs (melas) at held at many places.  The effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarana and Meghnad are set on fires on the ground. Many people gather to see the burning of these effigies and enjoy the fairs.In many parts of Northern India Ram Lila is enacted during the nights. Many people gather to enjoy the show.People wear new clothes on the day of Dussehra and eat sweets.2013 Dussehra Date and TimingThis year Dusshera is on 13th October 2013 i.e. on Sunday.