What is Dussehra?

Dussehra (also spelled as Dasara or Dashahara) is one of the most distinguished Hindu festivals, and is celebrated all across India at the end of the Navratri week. It marks the end of Durga Pooja as well as Ramleela, depending upon the area where it is being celebrated.

It is celebrated with great enthusiasm every year. It generally comes in the month of October/ November.

This festival is known by different names and celebrated in unique styles in different parts of the country. Dussehra has different meanings for different set of people.

In south, east and northeast India, it is called as Durga Puja. The essence of this festival in these regions links this festival with goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. This was one by goddess Durga to restore and protect dharma.

In the north and west parts of the country, this festival is called Dussehra. This day marks the end of Ramleela (which means Lord Rama’s play, which is a dramatic representation of the portions mythological tale Ramayana) and celebrates lord Rama’s success over the demon king, Ravana.

In many regions of South India, this festival is dedicated to goddess Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, learning and arts. People maintain, clean and worship their instruments and tools of their livelihood and worship goddess Saraswati.

Another tale for celebrating this humungous festivals links it with Arjuna’s single-handed victory over the entire Kauravs clan, including warriors like Bhishma, Drona, Ashwathama and Karna.

The common reason for celebrating this festival, irrespective of the style and story behind the celebrations, is the victory of the good (Dharma) over the evil (Adharma).

How is Dussehra celebrated?

There are different and unique forms of celebrating this humungous festival. Below are some of the styles in which Dussehra is celebrated in India.

• In North region of India, large effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meganatha (his accomplices) are burnt signifying the end of evil and the restoration of dharma. This is also known as Ravana Dahan.

• In Gujarat, celebrations include fasting and prayers at temples and performing folk dance. Dandiya and Garba being played while wearing traditional dresses.

• In Kolkata, other East regions of India, various theme based pandals are created where amazing idols of Goddess Durga along with other deities including, Ganesh, Laxmi and Saraswati are worshiped for 5 days.

• In South, Dussehra is celebrated in entirely different manner. The people there worship Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. People arrange doll shows, women invite each other to their homes and offer coconut, betel nuts, and other gifts to each other.

• Chattisgarh celebrates a unique kind of Dussehra that is all about rejoicing nature, spirituality and the presiding deity of the state. They worship Devi Danteshwari (the presiding deity of Bastar). Rituals performed on this day include pata jatra (worship of wood), deri gadhai (installation of kalash), kachan gaadi (installation of throne for Devi Kachan), nisha jatra (night-time festival), muria durbar (conference of tribal chieftains) and ohadi (farewell to deities).

• In Karnataka, this festival is also known as Mariamma festival and people perform folk dances dedicated to Draupadi. Parades are also organized where dramas related to gods, goddesses, demons etc. are also performed.

Each Indian state celebrates the festival in its own way but no matter where and how it is being celebrated, the grace and ethnicity with which Dussehra is celebrated is same.