Dussehra is a popular festival celebrated all over the country. It is also known as Vijayadashmi ('Vijay' meaning 'victory' and 'Dashmi meaning 'tenth day), as it is believed that it was on this day that Lord Rama killed the demon-king, Ravana and rescued his abducted wife - Sita. It signifies the triumph of good over evil. The legendary triumph is reenacted to the day. In the Northern parts of India, huge effigies of Ravana, his giant brother Kumbhkarna and son Meghnath are burnt, the enthusiasm and the cheers sometimes even drown the deafening blast.
Durga Puja
Bengalis celebrate Dusshera as a part of their main festival - Durga Puja. This day marks the end of Durga Puja celebrations, the preceding nine days being collectively referred to as 'Navratri'. Vijayadashmi is dedicated to Mother Goddess Shakti, who incarnated in the form of Goddess Durga, a combined manifestation of the divine energies of the Holy Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh and all the other devatas, when they summoned her to kill the mighty demon known as Mahishasura and freed the world from his terror.
On Vijayadashmi, the idols of Goddess Durga are immersed into water, after the nine days of festivities. It is said that the people of the earth in the eastern state of West Bengal adopted Durga as their daughter and thus, she visits the home of her parents every year, during the last four days of Navratri and finally leaves for her husband's place on Vijayadashmi. Similar customs are also seen in Orissa and Assam.
Navratri
During the first nine days of Ashwina a cultural extravaganza wraps the entire Gujarat state. The festival is dedicated to Goddess Amba, Goddess of Shakti. An interesting feature of navratri is the garba, a circular dance performed by women around an earthenware pot called a garbo, filled with water. The dance usually starts slowly, and gets faster and faster as the music too gets more rapid. Another dance, which is also a feature of Navaratri, is the dandia - ras, in which men and women join the dance circle, holding small polished sticks or Dandias together, adding to the joyous atmosphere. The dances usually commence late in the night and continue until early morning, testifying to their great popularity.
Saraswati Puja
In the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Vijayadashmi holds special significance. The day is considered auspicious for starting education or any form of art, such as dance and music. Saraswati Puja is conducted on this day, when the formal commencement of education of small kids takes place. It is called 'Vidya aarambham' (the beginning of Vidya, meaning education).
Durga Puja
Bengalis celebrate Dusshera as a part of their main festival - Durga Puja. This day marks the end of Durga Puja celebrations, the preceding nine days being collectively referred to as 'Navratri'. Vijayadashmi is dedicated to Mother Goddess Shakti, who incarnated in the form of Goddess Durga, a combined manifestation of the divine energies of the Holy Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh and all the other devatas, when they summoned her to kill the mighty demon known as Mahishasura and freed the world from his terror.
On Vijayadashmi, the idols of Goddess Durga are immersed into water, after the nine days of festivities. It is said that the people of the earth in the eastern state of West Bengal adopted Durga as their daughter and thus, she visits the home of her parents every year, during the last four days of Navratri and finally leaves for her husband's place on Vijayadashmi. Similar customs are also seen in Orissa and Assam.
Navratri
During the first nine days of Ashwina a cultural extravaganza wraps the entire Gujarat state. The festival is dedicated to Goddess Amba, Goddess of Shakti. An interesting feature of navratri is the garba, a circular dance performed by women around an earthenware pot called a garbo, filled with water. The dance usually starts slowly, and gets faster and faster as the music too gets more rapid. Another dance, which is also a feature of Navaratri, is the dandia - ras, in which men and women join the dance circle, holding small polished sticks or Dandias together, adding to the joyous atmosphere. The dances usually commence late in the night and continue until early morning, testifying to their great popularity.
Saraswati Puja
In the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Vijayadashmi holds special significance. The day is considered auspicious for starting education or any form of art, such as dance and music. Saraswati Puja is conducted on this day, when the formal commencement of education of small kids takes place. It is called 'Vidya aarambham' (the beginning of Vidya, meaning education).
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