With the festive seasons around, Dusshera is celebrated across the country. It’s one of the major festivals after Ganesh Chaturthi which falls before Diwali in the month of October. The factors that excite us during the Dussehra season are the long holidays, varieties of sweets, different poojas and definitely dandiya. This festival is celebrated by the Hindus across all the regions in India but these regions celebrate the festival in different ways. Have you ever thought how Dusshera and Vijayadashami are different from each other? How have they connected to Navaratri?
With Festive seasons around, Dusshera is celebrated across the country. It’s one of the major festivals after Ganesh Chaturthi which falls before Diwali in the month of October. The factors that excite us during the Dussehra season are the long holidays, varieties of sweets, different poojas and definitely dandiya. This festival is celebrated by the Hindus across all the regions in India but these regions celebrate the festival in different ways. Have you ever thought how Dusshera and Vijayadashami are different from each other? How are they connected to Navaratri?
What is Navratri and why it is celebrated across India?
For many, Navratri has been a culture and social festival which represents family get-togethers and celebration of various performances in the form of arts which is celebrated for 9 days. Before we began to understand the meaning of Dussehra celebration across the country, let us talk about Navratri.
The word Navaratri means “nine nights” in Sanskrit. As we know, Nava means nine and Ratri means night. As per the Hindu mythology, Navratri falls four times in a year and this festival is celebrated for 9 days to different gods and goddess for their achievements in various forms. Navratri extends to various gods and goddess such as goddess Durga, Saraswati, Lakshmi, gods such as Ganesha, Rama, Kartikeya, Shiva and Krishna who are regionally worshipped. The two most celebrated Navarathri’ is called as Sharada Navaratri and Vasanta Navaratri.
In many regions, the Navratri falls after the spring harvest and in others, it falls between the Spring season. During Vasanta Navaratri the Divine Mother or goddess Devi is worshipped to celebrate her praise, eternal blessing and her blessing for all the divine wealth.Sharada Navaratri is the most commonly celebrated festival among the four Navaratri and the word “Sharada” means autumn. The Sharada Navaratri starts on the first day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashvini which in the month of September-October during which Dussehra is celebrated across the country.
Know how Dussehra is celebrated differently across different regions
Dussehra typically falls on the after nine days of Navaratri which is celebrated for the victory over the evil or demon through Lord Rama or goddess Durga and this celebration is expressed through peace and knowledge across the country. In eastern and Northeastern states of India, Vijayadashami is celebrated in the name of warrior goddess Durga, who usually is depicted riding on a tiger and wielding many weapons in her eight arms. They celebrate the goddess Durga victory over the buffalo demon. In northern, southern and western states, they celebrate Dussehra by burning huge effigies of the demon Ravana before setting off fireworks to celebrate the destruction of evil. It basically celebrates the victory of good over evil. This year Dussehra is celebrated on 30th September. It is a nine days festival with worship, music and dance.
History of Dusshera
Dusshera and Vijayadashami celebrate the victory of good over evil. The epic Ramayana tells the story of Lord Rama and goddess Sita and how he won over goddess Sita to become his wife only to have her carried off by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. Ravana’s sister known as Shoorpanakha fell in love with Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana then Ravana wanted his sister wanted to marry one of them. Lakshmana refused to marry her and Rama could not Marry her as he was already married to Sita.
Shoorpanakha then threatened to kill Sita, so that she can marry Lord Rama. This made Lakshmana very angry and he decided to cut off Surpanakha’s nose and ears. Ravana was very angry on Lakshmana’s behavior so he kidnapped Sita to avenge his sister’s injuries. Rama and Lakshmana along with the god Hanuman and huge army of monkeys helped them to fight the battle and brought Sita back from Demon Ravana. Dusshera is celebrated by burning huge effigies of the demon Ravana before setting off fireworks to celebrate the destruction of evil or demon Ravana.
Vijayadashami is celebrated over the goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon called Mahishasura. He was named Mahishasura because he was a combination of buffalo and human and then he wanted to wage a war against all the devas. Once the war started with the Devas, led by Lord Indra were defeated. During this time, Devas approached Lord Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu to seek help in the war. These three gods combined their divine powers and created a woman who was called as Goddess Durga. Goddess Durga led a battle against the demon Mahishasura and killed him. Thus the prophecy that he would meet his death at the hands of a woman was fulfilled.
How is the end of Navratri celebrated?
In eastern and northeastern of India, the end of Vijayadashami is marked and celebrated by immersion of statues goddesses Durga into the water. They play music and chant before immersing the statues in water.
In northern, southern and western states of India, Dussehra is celebrated by the burning huge effigies of the demon Ravana before setting off fireworks to celebrate the destruction of evil.
Now you should be wondering to yourself that you have come to know a lot more than what you wanted. With so much of information at a time, you should be feeling sleepy. Now have a happy sleep on your comfortable and all-time favorite Centuary mattress.
