Dussehra is a sacred festival that is celebrated all over India. It is also called Dasara or Vijayadashami. It is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Rama (a Hindu god) over the 10-headed vicious king Ravana who had abducted Rama’s wife Sita. It marks the triumph of good over evil and the beginning of the festive season. It is usually celebrated on the tenth day in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin, the seventh month in the Hindu Calendar which falls in September and October.
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Significance of Dussehra
This festival is celebrated on the final day of Navratri. This year it falls on the 5th of October. Dussehra signifies the importance of good over evil and important events in Hindu mythology.
On this festival, sculptures of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakaran and his son Meghanada are burnt in different parts of the country. Various Ramlila performances are held across the country during the 10 days before Dussehra, depicting stories from Ramayana and how Lord Rama triumphed over Ravana.
Dussehra is a very important festival because it also marks the coming of Diwali which is celebrated 20 days later.
Dussehra in different parts of the country
This festival is celebrated across India in different ways. It is also widely celebrated in Nepal and Bangladesh.
In Southern India, Dussehra is a day which is observed to express gratitude. Goddess Chamundeshwari is worshipped. Dussehra is known as Golu in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerela and Andhra Pradesh. In Mysore, the goddess Chamundeshwari is worshipped and a grand procession takes place across the city of Mysore from the historical Mysore Palace to the Dasara parade ground.
In Western India, in states like West Bengal, Dussehra is celebrated as Durga Puja. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and during this time there are different pooja pandals set up, and streets are crowded where by the end of the festival, on Vijaya Dashami, the statues of goddess Durga are immersed in the river.
It is also celebrated in Nepal as Dasain. Among them, it is referred to as Mohani. On Vijayadashami, elders put tika and Jamara on the forehead of the youngest members of the family and the Jamara is sown on the first day of the festival which later becomes greenish yellow and becomes of symbol of victory.
In Bangladesh, Dussehra is celebrated similarly to the states of Western India.
Most Innovative Ways To Celebrate Dussehra
Dussehra signifies new beginnings and the victory of good over evil. This is also the time when families come together and celebrate, as it signifies the start of the festival season in India with Diwali just around the corner.
So, here are some innovative ways in which you can celebrate Dussehra this year with your family and friends:
1. Spending Quality Time With Friends and Family
Dussehra marks the beginning of the festive season. Families come together, get-togethers take place and happiness is all around. With the covid pandemic restrictions easing down, things are slowly going back to normal. Dussehra is a great occasion to spend the much-needed quality time with your family and friends, play games, relax and bond.
This Dussehra make it a point to visit your close friends and family and spend time with them while marking new beginnings and celebrating the victory of good over evil.
2. DIY Ravana
Do it yourself (DIY) Ravana is a great way to celebrate the festival of Dussehra. It is important to consider the environmental implications of our actions, and burning big sculptures of Ravana which are full of firecrackers is bound to cause a lot of pollution.
Hence to enjoy the festival and be environmentally friendly as well you can make a small eco-friendly Ravana that does not become a burden on the environment.
Parents can encourage their kids and make Ravana with them using newspaper, paper cups, straws etc. which will also give them the much-needed bonding time and teach them the importance of taking care of the environment while enjoying the festival.
Here are some useful videos to make your DIY Ravana
3. Burn the Evil in You by Taking a Pledge To Be Good
Dussehra signifies the victory of good over evil, hence it is a great time to make amends in relationships and make new beginnings. At the same time, it is a great idea to look within oneself and try to get rid of the evils that we usually harbour and try to become a better person, start things that one is afraid of, and ultimately take a pledge to become a good and kind person.
For example- One can think of becoming more honest and hardworking and can make a list of things that they aspire to be and the qualities that they would like to imbibe and work towards achieving them. Schools Must encourage such practices.
4. Keep the Tradition Alive
Older generations and parents need to teach their kids about the traditions and the culture of our country. And festivals like Dussehra and Diwali provide the perfect opportunity for parents, grandparents and children to bond and for them to share religious stories and the importance of festivals along with explaining to them why these festivals are celebrated in the first place. At 88Guru we encourage such practises which benefits the children alot.
It gives children a sense of belonging and they learn to respect their culture and country even more. This also helps in keeping the tradition alive. So, this Dussehra, make it a point to share stories with children that enhance their knowledge about the festival and make them feel connected to their roots.
