Posted on October 20th, 2007 by Namrata  •  Filed under: Festivals

As I told you in my last post, Vijayadashami also known as Dussehra, “Dashain” in Nepali, or Mohani Nakha in the language of the Newar community of Nepal. It is also considered to be an auspicious day to begin new things in life. It is the largest festival of Nepal and celebrated by Hindu and non-Hindu as well.

History:

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.

Ravana (Shoorpanakha’s brother) was incensed to hear what happened to his sister, and kidnapped Sita to avenge the insult. Many people say in Sita’s swayamvar (marriage) Sita rejected Ravana and got married to Ram. That was the second reason to take avenge. After nine days of battle on Dussehra Ravana was killed by Ram and Ram had victory over Ravana.

So this day is celebrated as “Victory Of Good Over Evil” And the Ramleela – an abridged dramatization of the Ramayana – is enacted with much public fervor all over northern India during the period of the festivities. Dussehra can also be interpreted as “Dasa-Hara”, which signifies the cutting of the ten heads of Ravana.

According to the great Hindu scripture, the Ramayana, Lord Rama performed Chandi-Puja (holy prayer). This was carried out in order to invoke the blessings of Durga Maa for the killing of Ravana. It is said that lord Ram was successful in the battle only when goddess Durga was evoked.

The main celebration glorifies the victory of good over evil and is symbolized by goddess Durga slaying the terrible demon Mahisasur, who terrorized the earth in the guise of a brutal water buffalo. The first nine days signify the nine days of ferrous battle between goddess Durga and the demon Mahisasur. The tenth day is the day when Mahisasur was slain and the last five days symbolize the celebration of the victory with the blessing of the goddess.

This is the reason in Bengal, the festival is celebrated as Kali Puja or Durga Puja, while in Tamilnadu, the festival incorporates worship of the goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Shakti and in Nepal, Dashain is celebrated with great rejoice, and goddess Durga is worshiped throughout the kingdom as the divine mother goddess.

On this day, the idols of Goddess Durga are finally immersed into water after the nine days of festivities. It is said that the people of the earth here adopted Durga as the daughter and thus, she visits the home of her parents every year during the last four days of Navratri along with her sons Ganesha and Kartikeya and daughters Lakshmi and Saraswati. She finally leaves for her husband’s place on the Vijayadashmi day.

How people celebrate this festival:

In preparation for this festival every home is cleansed and beautifully decorated as an invitation to the mother goddess, so that she may visit and bless the house with good fortune. During this time the reunions of distant and nearby relatives occur in every household.

It is believed that any new venture such as starting of business or purchasing of new household items on this day is bound to succeed. Many people buy computer, books or cars on this day. Because the day is auspicious, people inaugurate new vehicles, machines, books, weapons and tools by ceremonially asking god to bless the new items.

The day before Dussehra people spent night to make Torans (Floral Gateways). On Dussehra people decorate there home and shop with flowers. Kids enjoy watching beautiful crackers, fireworks.

On this day in Nepal people take tika and jamara from their elders and receive their blessing. They visit their elders in their home and get tika from them while our younger ones come to our home to receive blessing from us.

Not only in Nepal, but in India also people visit their elders in their home to receive blessings from elders. Bengali people visit each others house to wish their loved ones Shubho Bijoya. The children touch the feet of their elders as an expression of respect towards them. Similarly, adults embrace each other with heartfelt good wishes, which in Bengali known as Kolakuli.

In India, People present each other the leaves of apati tree as ’sona’ or gold and wish Happy Dussehra to everyone.

Crackers are burnt and huge melas or fetes are organized. The burning of the effigies of Ravana on Vijayadashami, signifying the victory of good over evil, brings the festivities to a colorful close. I really enjoy burning of the effigies of Ravana.

I really enjoy this day. Hope u all Will enjoy. Happy Dussehra and Shubho Bijoya to all of you. May God bless you with good fortune.