IMPORTANCE OF FESTIVAL-DUSSEHRA IN INDIAN CULTURE

Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2017: Celebration, History, Importance and Significance of this Festival
Dussehra marks the end of Durga Puja for those in eastern and northeastern states of India and in the northern and southern states, the festival also signifies the victory of Lord Ram over Ravana, who had abducted Sita.
BY: LIFESTYLE DESK | NEW DELHI |
PUBLISHED ON:SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 12:00 AM

The tenth day of Navratri celebrations is known as Vijayadashami or Dussehra (Dasara). The festival marks the victory of good over evil and is celebrated on the tenth day of the month Ashwin of the Hindu calendar. It signifies the end of Durga Puja for those in eastern and northeastern states of India and commemorates the victory of goddess Durga over Mahishasura, the demon king. In the northern and southern states, the festival also signifies the victory of Lord Ram over Ravana, who had abducted Sita.
The Hindu religious festival is celebrated across cities in India and in Nepal. Many conclude the celebrations by taking part in processions to a river or sea-side to immerse the clay statues of Saraswati, Lakshmi, Ganesha and Durga. Devotees immersing the idols ask for absolution of sins and blessings from the gods. As part of Dussehra celebrations, enormous effigies of Ravana, most times along with that of his brothers Meghanada and Kumbakaran, are burnt in huge open grounds, signifying Ram’s victory over the king of Sri Lanka. Dussehra also marks the onset of preparations for the festival of lights — Diwali, which falls twenty days after the festival.
Celebrations also include organising the famed and popular Ramlila performances which involves people enacting the life and glory of the righteous Lord Ram through short plays. In cities like Varanasi however, the entire life of Ram is acted out by artists every evening for an entire month.
Dussehra is celebrated with much fervour and excitement in the northern states of Varanasi, Ayodhya, Vrindavan, Madhubani, Almora and other cities of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand. The festivities is known as Kullu Dussehra in Himachal Pradesh and Dashain in Nepal.

By aruna sharma.