Dusshera - A symbol of victory of the Good over the Evil

Dusshera - A symbol of victory of the Good over the Evil

Dusshera:- is widely celebrated and very significant festival of Hindus celebrated all over the India. The festival celebrates the victory of the good and pure over the bad and evil. Dusshera is celebrated with different rituals in different parts of India. In North the festival is dedicated to the win of Lord Rama(good) over the Ravana(evil) whereas in southern and eastern part of country, it is celebrated for the win of Goddess Durga over the devil Mahishasur. On occasion of Dusshera festival various fairs are organized with full enthusiasm.

Royal procession of Mysore during the Dusshera festival

The Mysore Dusshera has a history of more than 400 years. A 10 day festival starts with navratri and has a finale on Dusshera day. A royal flavor is added to the Dusshera festival when royal couple performs AYUDHA PUJA with traditional culture of the WODEYAR family. The idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari(aspect of Durga) is taken on decorated elephants with a royal procession from the palace to Dusshera ground. The palace of Mysore is decorated with flowers and lights and is the one of the attractive thing during the festival.

Mysore Palace

 

Royal procession during the Dusshera festival celebration

Another Royal-Lead festival, Kullu Dusshera. Here the devotees carry idols of Gods and Goddesses on their heads in a procession where they meet the main God, Lord Raghunath. This is led by the King of the Kullu. The Kullu Dusshera is slightly different from other as it starts when other finishes the 10 day long festival. In Kullu Dusshera festival starts on dusshera day and carries on for a week.  On the last day of the celebration the pile of wood is set to fire which signifies the symbolic burning of Ravana’s Lanka. Phool yatra, International folk festival and Kullu fair are some of the attractive events here during the Dusshera festival.

A still from the Ramlila 

Delhi Dusshera – a festival starts with Navratri and Ramlila – an enachment of the life of Lord Rama and continues till Dusshera, also known as VIJAYDASHMI. Ramlila is a unique feature during Dusshera celebration where the stories from Ramayana , especially the war between Lord Ram and Ravana  are recreated in the form of plays and Skits. 

Ramlila maidan in old delhi hosts the most popular Ramlila shows of the region. Following Ramlila , effigies of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbhkaran are set to fire as  symbol of victory of the Good over the Evil along with various fireworks. Mela or Fairs are a major highlight of Dusshera festival, where stalls are set for shopping, joy- ride and other activities.