Dussehra 2021: The holy festival of Navratri has already started. During this, nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped with full rituals. These days, devotees decorate Mata’s outpost and also do Durga lessons in their homes. For the whole nine days, the markets are also lively and people are seen in full enthusiasm.
Dussehra is a multi-cultural festival. This festival is also known as Vijayadashami. In Nepal it is celebrated as Dashain. It is celebrated on the tenth day of the month of Ashwin of the Hindu luni-solar calendar.
It usually falls in the months of September and October of the Gregorian calendar. This time it will be celebrated on Friday, October 15.
Dussehra Date and Time
- Vijay Muhurta – 14:01 to 14:47
- Aparna Puja time – 13:15 to 15:33
- Dashami Tithi starts – 14 October 18:52
- Dashami Tithi ends – 15 October 18:02
- Shravan Nakshatra starts – 14 October 09:36
- Shravan Nakshatra ends – 15 October 09:16
Dussehra Significance
Vijayadashami is the festival of victory of good over evil. This festival is celebrated in different parts of the country for different reasons. Some devotees celebrate it as Bijoy Dashami, the end of Durga Puja, as the victory of Maa Durga over the demon Mahishasura, who terrorized the gods.
The procession is accompanied by music and chants carrying the idols of Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya.
Idols are immersed in water bodies and bid farewell. Married women apply vermilion on each other’s forehead and people exchange greetings.
In some states it is celebrated as Dussehra. They celebrate this festival as the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. The effigies of Ravana, which symbolizes evil, are lit with fireworks.
On this occasion, Pandava Arjuna defeated all the Kuru warriors with his huge number of soldiers. Goddess Aparajita is worshiped on the day of Dussehra.
Shami Puja is also an important ritual performed on Vijayadashami. It should be done in the afternoon. Weapons are also worshiped on the day of Dussehra. Diwali, the festival of lights, comes twenty days after Dussehra.
Dussehra History
According to legends, Ravana abducted the wife of Lord Rama which led to a deadly war between them. Demonic King Ravana was given a boon of being indestructible by Lord Brahma. After several events, Rama managed to kill Ravana by shooting an arrow through his belly-button. Therefore, the 10th day of Ashvina month of the Hindu calendar is celebrated as Dussehra, every year.
There’s one more legend behind this festival. According to Mahabharat, this day commemorates the victory of Arjuna who single-handedly defeated the entire Kaurava Army. Arjuna is also known as Vijaya and hence, the day he destroyed the army is referred to as the ‘Vijaya Dashami’.
Many people throughout the nation celebrate this day as an occasion to honour the victory of good over evil. Devotees in the Eastern parts of India observe this day as the end of Durga Puja which begins with the festival of Navratri.
Dussehra Celebrations across India
On this day, devotees wear new clothes and organize public festivities commemorating the victory of good over evil in the northern parts of India. Celebrated as the conclusion of the nine-day-long fast of Navratri, Dussehra is observed by organizing a theatrical enactment of Rama’s life story which is called Ram Lila. Followed by which the effigies of Ravana, his son Meghanada and brother Kumbhakaran are set on fire in open fields throughout the nation.
People in the Eastern region of India including West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha observe this day as the end of Durga Puja which is celebrated by wearing a red saree and putting on vermilion. It is observed as an emotional occasion and Bengalis sing folk songs while immersing the idols of Goddess Durga in water bodies.
Best Places to Observe Dussehra Celebrations in India
- Delhi
- Haryana
- Uttar Pradesh
- West Bengal
- Bihar
