Dasara, Dussehra Greetings, Wishes, Wallpapers, SMS, Images & Lots More!
Details about the Festival:
Vijayadashami (Kannada: ????????, Telugu: ???????? Hindi: ????????, Marathi: ?????????), also known as Dussehra (Kannada: ???, Telugu: ????, Hindi: ?????, Urdu: ?????, Marathi: ????) and Dashain (in Nepali), is a festival celebrated in varying forms across Nepal and India. It is celebrated on the tenth day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu autumn month of Ashvin or Ashwayuja, and is the grand culmination of the 10-day annual Navratri (Sanskrit: ????????, nine nights) festival.
The underlying tradition and mode of celebration vary vastly by region. However, all festivities celebrate the victory of the forces of Good over Evil. It is considered an auspicious day to begin new ventures in life. It is the largest festival of Nepal, and celebrated by Hindu and non-Hindu Nepalis alike.
Significance
In Southern India, Eastern India and Western India, the festival of Navaratri which culminates with Vijayadashami commemorates the legend in which the Goddess Durga, also known as Chamundeshwari or Mahishasura Mardini, vanquishes the demon Mahishasura, an event that is said to have taken place in the vicinity of the present day city of Mysore in Karnataka.
In Northern India, the same 10-day festival commemorates the victory of Rama, prince of Ayodhya in present-day Uttar Pradesh, over Ravana, the ruler of Lanka.
All the People in Nepal, as well as the contiguous Indian hill state of Uttarakhand, celebrate the festival with the greatest importance.
History of Dasara / Dussehra:
This day marks the triumph of Lord Rama over Demon king Ravana. On this day, Rama killed Ravana.
Rama was asked to go on exile because his stepmother, Queen Kaikeyee was tricked into asking King Dasaratha to exile him for 14 years. Rama’s wife Sita, and his brother Lakshmana went with him willingly.
News of Rama staying at an ashram while on exile spread rapidly. A demon, Shoorpanakha found her way there and demanded that Rama or Lakshmana marry her. When both brothers rejected her, she threatened to kill Sita, so that Rama would then be single again. Lakshmana then cut off her ears and nose.
Shoorpanakha’s brother was the demon King Ravana. Ravana was incensed to hear what happened to his sister, and kidnapped Sita to avenge the insult.
The Ramayana chronicles Rama’s travels and deeds as he searched for his wife, and defeated evil.
Dasara / Dussehra Celebrations
Northern India
Ravana effigy being burnt in Hyderabad
In Northern India, the festival commemorates the victory of Rama, prince of Ayodhya and avatara of Vishnu, over Ravana, the ruler of Lanka who had abducted Rama‘s wife, Sita Devi. The festival is celebrated with much gusto. Crackers are burnt, and huge melas or fetes are organised. The Ramlila – an abridged dramatization of the Ramayana – is enacted with much public fervour all over northern India during the period of the festivities. The burning of the effigies of Ravana on Vijayadashami, signifying the victory of good over evil, brings the festivities to a colourful close. Some non-Hindus also go to the festival for the novelty of the costumes and reenactments. Read more…
