An Indian festival known as Dussehra (Vijayadashami) commemorates the victories of Lord Rama over the evil Ravana and Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo rakshasa Mahisasura. The nine-day-long festival, Navratri ends with the celebration of Dussehra, known as Dashain in Nepal.
Historical significance of Dussehra:
Everywhere in the nation, people celebrate Dussehra or Vijayadashmi according to their own beliefs. People from North to South, have different beliefs about this festival. However, all the tales show the triumph of good over evil. According to the epic Ramayana, while Lord Rama was in exile, Ravana kidnapped his wife Devi Sita, and took her to his territory Lanka. To rescue Sita, Rama attacked Lanka with the help of his brother Lakshmana, Lord Hanuman, and an army of monkeys. On the tenth day of the battle, Dashanan was defeated by Ayodhya’s Prince Rama. The name of the festival comes from two Sanskrit words Dasha (ten) and Hara (defeat). The celebration also represents the shift from summer to winter.
This festival has another tale attached to it. According to Mahabharata, Vijayadashami is the celebration of the victory of Arjuna over the entire Kaurava Army on his own. Devotees in eastern parts of India, especially Bengalis celebrate this day as the annual day of Durga Pooja which begins with the Navratri. Ancient texts claim that Goddess Durga killed the demon Mahishasura and saved heaven and earth from his tyranny. Mahisura’s one blessing was that no man could ever kill him. Because no woman had the bravery or skill to do so, he used to believe that he was immortal. When there was no other option, God created Durga to destroy Mahisura. In West Bengal, people call Goddess Durga “Uma”, and consider her as their daughter.
Dussehra 2024 date:
Navratri 2024 or Durga Pooja will be celebrated from 3rd October to 12th October this year. As we know, it concluded with the celebration of Vijaydashami. In India, the Dussehra date falls on a Saturday, October 12. In addition, on this day, the planning for Diwali in 2024, which falls after 20 days of Dussehra, begins.
Tradition and Rituals of Dussehra:
Dussehra is celebrated with many different traditions and rituals across India. The cities of Delhi, Mysore, Varanasi, Kullu, and Kolkata are renowned for their joyous celebration of this event. To offer their prayers, followers of Lord Rama go to temples devoted to him.
- Rama Lila: Ram Lila is a Ramayana drama that is presented in places like Varanasi, Lucknow, and Kanpur. The audience watches as actors portraying Lord Ram, Lakshman, and Hanuman kill the idols of Ravana, Kumbhakaran, and Meghnath. The story of the life of Lord Rama is portrayed by a dramatic play with acting, dance, and drama by the actors.
- Ravana Dahan: The nightly practice or ritual in North India involves stuffing firecrackers inside the effigies of Ravana, his son Meghnada, and his brother Kumbhkarana, and setting them on fire in empty fields.
- Shami Puja: A prayer to the Shami tree to represent the victory of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata.
- Aparajita Puja: Also known as Aparhan Puja, this puja is dedicated to the goddess Aparajita to represent the undefeated soul of good. According to a legend, the Goddess Aparajitad vanquished all asuras who were practicing Adharma and protected those who were following Dharma. Lord Rama worshiped the Goddess Aparajita the day before he started his journey to Lanka to bring Sita back.
- Shastra Puja: It is a tradition of worshiping weapons and tools on the day of Dussehra. This tradition is based on the belief that the gods worshiped the weapons of Maa Durga after she defeated the demon Mahishasura. People in different parts of the country worship their weapons by cleaning them and decorating them with flowers.
Dussehra 2024 Pooja Muhurat:
This year, the timings for Vijay Muhurat and Aparahna Puja are 02:03 to 02:43 pm and 01:17 to 03:35 pm respectively. There are some rituals like Shami Puja, Seema Avalanghan, and Aparajita Puja which are performed during Aparahna Muhurat on Vijayadashami.
Dussehra 2024 wishes:
Here are some of the best Dussehra 2024 wishes:
- Happy Vijayadashami. May Maa Durga’s blessings provide you with courage, strength, and wisdom.
- I wish you countless blessings of health, happiness, and wisdom on this Dussehra.
- Happy Dussehra. May your life be filled with blessings of love, joy, and good health.
- I wish you a life surrounded by your dear ones and filled with fortune, joy, and success on this Dussehra.
- May all of your concerns and troubles vanish along with the Ravana effigy when we burn it.
- Happy Dussehra 2024. I pray for great strength and bravery to help you and your loved ones succeed and live a moral life.
Best places to visit during Dussehra this year:
Some of the best places to visit during Dussehra include:
- Kolkata, West Bengal: Known for its Durga Puja, a cultural extravaganza that takes place just before Dussehra. For five days, magnificent idols of Goddess, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Laxmi, and Goddess Saraswati are worshiped in various theme-based pandals.
- Kullu Dussehra: It is a week-long celebration in the Kullu valley of the Indian state Himachal Pradesh. It’s widely known for its cultural heritage, history, and colorful celebrations. The festival is associated with Raja Jagat Singh, ruler of the Kullu kingdom in the 16th century. He brought a statue of Lord Raghunath (Rama) from Ayodhya to Kullu and started the tradition of celebrating Dussehra in the region. Presently, Kullu Dussehra is considered an international festival and features the arrival of Mata Hadimba from Manali and gods and goddesses from various regions of the state. The rath yatra which is a procession of deities on a chariot that marks the start of Kullu Dussehra is the highlight of this festival.
- Delhi: Delhi is one of the cities that celebrates Dussehra in grand style. Huge grounds are used for Ramleela, dandiya nights, Dussehra fairs, and food festivals over the ten-day festivity. People congregate to observe the burning of Ravana, Meghnad, and Kumbhakarana effigies, known as Ravan Dahan, and to visit temples on the tenth day.
- Kota, Rajasthan: Kota, Rajasthan is known for its Dussehra Fair, also known as the Dussehra Mela, which is a spectacular celebration of good triumphing over evil. The festival features a procession, cultural events, food stalls, and rides. A grand sword procession is the major highlight of this fair which showcases the royalty of the city’s royal sword.
Conclusion:
Dussehra, a significant Hindu festival is the ideal time to spend good time together with your dear ones. Let Noble House Tours Private Ltd. be your tour operator if you’re also thinking of organizing a vacation to some of the top locations in India during this Dussehra. With more than 22 years of experience, they are committed to giving their customers the best travel-related services. For a truly unforgettable Dussehra experience, make Nobel Hours Tours Private Ltd. your go-to travel advisor.
