The Dussehra Festival
Which festivals do you celebrate?
Which festival is celebrated as victory of good over evil?
. On which festival do we burn effigies or putlas?
Let’s read why we celebrate Dussehra. What is the story behind it?
In India many festivals are celebrated with great zeal. Dussehra is one of them. It is also called Vijayadashmi. According to Hindu calendar, Dussehra occurs on the tenth day of ‘Ashwin month’ ‘Shukla Paksha’.
On this day Lord Ram got victory over Ravan, the king of Lanka. He kidnapped Ram’s wife Sita and took her to Lanka. This led to a fierce battle between Ram and Ravan which ended with the defeat of Ravan and his army. Dussehra is celebrated in honour of Ram’s victory.
In many parts of India, Ramleela is organized during Navratris, from Ashwin Shukla Pratipada to Dashmi. Ramleela describes the story of Ram in the form of a drama. Every day many scenes of Ram’s life such as Narad Moh, Ram Janm, Ram Vivah, Ram Vanvas, Tadka Vadh, Panchvati scene, Seeta Haran, Hanuman Milan, Burning of Lanka. Setu Nirman and Ram-Ravan Yuddh are enacted on the stage. Hanuman’s get- up attracts everyone especially the children.
On the tenth day, large effigies of Ravan, his son Meghnad and his brother Kumbhkaran are erected on a big ground. These effigies are stuffed with fire crackers. In the evening people begin to assemble to see Ravan Dahan and fireworks.
Fairs are organized at various places on this auspicious occasion. Children enjoy themselves in many ways. They play the roles of various characters like Ram, Hanuman and Rakshasas using handmade paper arms and masks.
At sunset Ram and Lakshman come in a chariot with Vanar Sena. Ram shoots arrows at the effigies. The effigies catch fire and burn to ashes. Fireworks and crackers explode in the air. People in some areas of Rajasthan go to greet each other. Dussehra is a symbol of victory of good over evil.