Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, Dasara, Dashahara, and Dashain, is a colorful Hindu festival replete with joy and fervor. It generally falls in September or October, on the 10th day of the bright half of the Hindu month Ashvin. In 2024, Dussehra will be celebrated on October 12th. The festival is imbued with Hindu culture and spirituality, symbolising the victory of good over evil.
Meaning of Dussehra:
The name “Dussehra” is derived from Sanskrit wherein dasha means “ten,” and hara stands for “defeat.” It celebrates the victory of Lord Rama-an avatar of Vishnu-over the ten-headed demon king Ravana who had kidnapped Rama’s wife Sita. This victory is taken as a symbol of ultimate triumph of good over evil. Another legend leading to Dussehrah is Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura after a fierce ten-day battle.
Dussehra Puja and Rituals:
Dussehra celebration holds many rituals and customs in India. Ramlila is one of the major points of this day in North India, which covers the dramatic enactment of the life of Rama. Effigies of Ravana are burnt along with his son Meghnada and brother Kumbhakarna, signifying destruction. Some of the common activities are burning effigies of Ravana along with fireworks and large fairs. Fasting during the nine days of Navratri preceding Dussehra, along with special prayers and kanya pujan, in which young girls are worshipped to represent the nine forms of Durga. Certain Vedic astrological propitiations, such as Shami tree puja, Aparajita puja, and Seema Avalanghan, are most auspicious on Dussehra. Significance of Dussehra:
Dussehra embodies the defeat of evil by good and celebrates the power of righteousness.
The festival reminds Hindus that one should be courageous, stand up for justice, and fight against injustice. It is also a time of new beginnings, as depicted when the Pandavas returned to their empire after exile. Dussehra is an auspicious time to initiate any kind of new beginnings or learning. It projects the beginning of positive transformation in life-the overcoming of one’s limitations toward enlightenment. The Navratri included in the ten days of Dussehra signifies the three integral aspects of human nature: Tamas, which means inertia; Rajas, which means activity; and Sattva, which means purity. Dussehra teaches that by transcendence, one can achieve liberation from these qualities-what is called Moksha.
