When people talk about the history of religion and myths in India, there are two legends that are very popular in particular. One of them is the epic of Ramayana, where Lord Ram got rid of the evil King Ravana in a fierce battle between pure and evil. In honor of this outcome, Hindus celebrate the festival of Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami. Other common variations of the name include Dashain or Dasara, and which is used depends on the community and region.
What is Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami)?
This particular festival occurs around the months of October or September, depending on when its Hindu date occurs each year. Indeed, the month that is related to this particular festival in the Hindu calendar is Ashwin. It is a ten-day celebration and the Dussehra holiday occurs on the tenth day of the ‘Shukla Paksha’.
During this festival, which is celebrated in the entire Hindu community of India, people do not go to offices or banks. Notably, it is a public holiday, which means that all Government offices, schools, and even many private businesses are kept shut down. Yet, some stores do stay open but for a reduced timeline. Furthermore, public transport is also closed off during this period, for the most part.
Symbolism
The festival of Dussehra does have a lot of symbolism to its celebrations, irrespective of the community that celebrates it. These include wood or paper effigies of the mythical ten-headed Ravana, red spots on the foreheads of people during the puja, etc. Another common act that is synonymous with this festival is the burning of wooden pyres or fireworks. In fact, in West Bengal, this festival starts with Mahalaya, where people burn bonfires, symbolizing the first day of ‘Devi Paksha’ of Durga Puja. On the other hand, in places like Maharashtra, the huge effigies of the ten-headed Ravana are burnt.
What is the history behind Dussehra?
As mentioned before, the main backstory behind this festival is visible in the epic written by Valmiki about the life and war of Lord Rama. Titled as The Ramayana, the main issue occurs when Sita, the wife of Rama, is captured and abducted by the demonic King Ravana. His motive for doing so has some variations in different retellings, the most common being he wanted Sita for himself.
After he takes Sita to his kingdom, Lanka (present-day Sri Lanka), Rama along with his brother Laxman, his trusted companion Hanuman, and the ‘vanarsena’ (army of monkeys) wage a war to get her back. Consequently, the war lasts for a long period, until finally, Rama defeats Ravana and rescues his wife, bringing the dawn of a new and prosperous period.
This final battle and ultimate triumph of Rama is what symbolizes the end of tyranny and evil in the hands of the good. And the last fight between the two mythical characters is what Dussehra is celebrated for. In fact, this is why the huge wooden and paper-made statue of Ravana is burnt on the eve of this holiday and then celebrated.
How do the Dussehra celebrations occur?
Without a doubt, this festival is commemorated in a big way by many Hindus throughout the country, and most for ten consecutive days. However, the proceedings are not the same in every community, and there are some variations in the customs. Even the back story of this festival is slightly different in differing cultures, all of which involve ‘pujas’ on the auspicious holiday.
This long festival also includes prayer meetings and small ‘pujas’ at homes and bigger ones in temples. And in some communities in the South, especially Bengal, ‘pujas’ occur in big Mandals made in different neighborhoods. Nonetheless, this is more common in the Durga Puja celebrations in this state, that end with Vijaya Dashami.
Some other common celebrations of Dussehra include a dramatized performance of Ramayana, the ‘Ramlila’, specifically in North India. In the state of Karnataka, a large procession occurs in Mysore, with the goddess Chamundeshwari sitting on a throne on top of an elephant. This celebration is hugely popular in this state. Plus, some matters like blessing the work-related and household materials like books, vehicles, and cooking pans are common in many local ‘pujas’.
Additionally, the Hindus regard this particular festival with a very auspicious eye and believe it to be the beginning of good times. Thus, many individuals start their new ventures or important journeys during Dussehra. Exchanging gifts and eating delicious foods out with families and friends are common practices during this period too.
Notable Mentions or Variations
With so many different types of regional groups celebrating different types of this festival for ten days, there are some interesting variations and holidays that come along with it. However, these are not celebrated in every part of India. Some of the most notable names are mentioned hereafter.
- Durga Puja- Celebrated mainly in West Bengal and surrounding areas, Durga Puja focuses on the fight between Goddess Durga against the demonic Mahisasura. The last day of this celebration is called Vijaya Dashami, which is another name for Dussehra. Usually, this too lasts for ten days, starting from Mahalaya or Ekadasi. However, the holiday itself is celebrated over 4-5 days, starting with either the sixth (Sashti) or the seventh day (Saptami) till the tenth day (Dashami).
- Navaratri- While this is not a variation of this festival, it is an important day to mention. This usually occurs for 9 days in the South Indian states. During this festival, the celebrations revolve around goddesses Saraswati and Lakshmi. They are the patron deities for fertility and wisdom, and wealth and luck, respectively. People go to meet with their relatives and friends and enjoy spending their time together. Plus, everyone’s houses are decorated beautifully and people engage in having fun. They enjoy dancing and singing with neighbors and family for all nine days, mostly visible in Gujarat.
- Ayudha Puja– This particular puja occurs on the ninth day of the festival of Dussehra, and is more common with the working-class people. During this, one’s materials of livelihood are given to the god and prayed for. People see divinity in daily life things and pray for the blessings of the Gods and goddesses. However, this puja is common in some particular communities and is very spread out in nature.