Dussehra
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History, Importance, Significance
Vijayadashami's Significance
FE Online, September 29, 2017: Financial Express
Dussehra 2017: History, Importance & Significance of this Festival
Dussehra which is also known as Vijayadashami is a major festival which is celebrated at the end of Navratri every year.
Dussehra which is also known as Vijayadashami, is a major festival which is celebrated at the end of Navratri every year. It is a celebration of the victory of good over evil. Every year as per Hindu calendar, this important festival is celebrated on the tenth day of the month Ashvin. The festival is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of the Indian subcontinent. People all over the country participate in the occasion in their own way, with great zeal and enthusiasm.
The day marks the victory of the seventh incarnation of Vishnu – Lord Rama when he killed the ten-headed demon Ravana and thereafter handed over the throne of his kingdom Lanka to his brother Vibhishana. The word ‘Dussehra’ is derived from two Sanskrit words – ‘dasha’ and ‘hara’ – that mean defeating the ten, reported India.com. The day also marks the end of Durga Puja, where people remember goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasur, to help restore Dharma.
Durga led a battle against Mahishasur and it lasted for nine days and nine nights. Durga killed Mahishasur on the tenth day. Therefore, different manifestations of goddess Durga are worshipped during the nine-day long Navratri festival each year. Wherein the tenth day is dedicated to Durga as Vijaydashmi. The feminine power is worshipped and celebrated during the festival of Navratri. Navratri celebration culminates with Dussehra on the tenth day, when the idol of goddess Durga is immersed in a river or a lake.
People celebrate the festival in different ways across the country. In North India, various colorful fairs are organised. Plays based on the story of Ramayan, which is known as Ramleela are performed. On the day of Vijaydashmi, huge effigies of Ravan, Meghnad and Kumbhakarn are also set on fire. Whereas in places like Odisha and West Bengal, as per the report, the idol of the goddess is immersed in a river or a lake on the day of Vijaydashmi.
Meaning of Dussehra
One Theory
- Dasha Hara is a Sanskrit word which means removal of ten bad qualities within you*:
- Ahankara* (Ego)
- Amanavta* (Cruelty)
- Andhkaar (darkness)
- Anyaaya* (Injustice)
- Kama vasana* (Lust)
- Krodha* (Anger)
- Lobha* (Greed)
- Mada* (Over Pride)
- Matsara* (Jealousy)
- Moha* (Attachment)
- Swartha* (Selfishness)
Hence, also known as *'Vijaydashami'* signifying *”Vijaya”* over these ten bad qualities.
Victory over evil
The Times of India, Oct 22 2015
B K Brijmohan The festival of Dussehra or Vijaya dashami celebrates the victory of good over evil, symbolised in Indian mythology by the slaying of the demon king Ravana by Rama, and by the killing of the monster Mahishasura by Goddess Durga. Every year, effigies of Ravana are burnt on Dussehra, which falls on the 10th day of the month of Ashwin in the Hindu lunar calendar. Ravana is the personification of evil a learned scholar who gave in to lust, anger, greed and ego. Rama is the personification of virtue, the Marayada Purush. Vijayadashami marks the victory of virtue over vice.
We celebrate Dussehra every year, but are we really becoming free of vices, or are the celebrations just another empty annual ritual? When we look at the world, we find that far from overcoming vices, people are becoming slaves to them.Increasing corruption, immorality and materialism indicate a growing void that is being sought to be filled with possessions and physical pleasures. The increasing influence of vice in our lives is unwittingly reflected in the size of the Ravana effigies built for Dussehra, which grow taller each year.
Simply burning wood and straw effigies is not going to bring us victory over evil. That can be achieved only by spiritual effort. The story of the Ramayana is a parable of how God, personified by Rama, and humans represented by monkeys, together can rid the world of negative tendencies.
The battle described in the Ramayana is an allegory for the struggle that goes on in the mind between our higher Self and our weaknesses. God helps us in this struggle by giving us the strength to resist evil and the wisdom to avoid deceptions created by ignorance of our true identity.
When we forget that we are spiritual beings, or souls, we begin to define ourselves in terms of our body and the labels that come with it of race, religion, nationality and gender, for example.We also measure our worth, and that of others, in terms of personal and professional roles, responsibilities, possessions, appearance and social and financial status. Such identification with the physical not only begets attachment but also brings sorrow when our gross identity suffers due to ageing, declining social, financial or professional positions. It also makes us vulnerable to vice, the cause of suffering.
We need to remove veils of ignorance from the intellect, by becoming aware of our true identity as souls innately possessing divine qualities of peace, love and cooperation. This awareness needs to be awakened to dissipate and sublimate acquired demonic traits, through the subtle fire of Raja Yoga meditation.With the collective practice of spiritual knowledge and meditation, not only our negative proclivities but even the pollu ted elements of nature can be purified.
Raja Yoga connects us to Divinity and empowers the soul to resist negative influences, sorrows and sufferings. It is the ultimate stage of a yogi as described in the Gita one who remains unmoved by victory or defeat, fame or notoriety , loss or gain. Such self-mastery is not only the prerogative of saints and sages, but can be easily attained by any householder with a little awareness and effort.
To make our celebration of Vijayadashami meaningful, we must resolve on this occasion to take at least one step towards conquering our weaknesses, so that each year we move closer to attaining victory over them. This is the only way we can sublimate the negative propensities of Ravana living in our minds.
Why Dussehra is celebrated
October 18, 2018: The Times of India
Dussehra, also known as Dasara or Vijayadashami in different parts of India, is a popular festival among Hindus as it signifies good winning over evil. The word Vijayadashami is made up of two words-- Vijaya meaning victory and Dashami meaning the tenth. Meanwhile, the word Dussehra is also made of two Sanskrit words-- Dasha meaning ten and Hara meaning defeat. Hence, Dussehra is celebrated in the month of Ashwin on the 10th day, which according to the Gregorian calendar falls either in the month of September or October. In 2018, while Dussehra is being celebrated on October 18 in South, it will be marked on October 19 in North India.
This auspicious day of victory of good over evil is celebrated in different ways in various parts of the country. Vijayadashami or Dussehra signifies the day when Goddess Durga killed Mahishasur-- the demon and hence it is marked as a day for celebrations. In some other parts of India, Dussehra is also celebrated as the day when Lord Ram killed Ravana. Read on to know more about the significance of this festival in detail.
Why is Dussehra celebrated?
For instance in Bengal, the celebration for Durga Puja starts on the sixth day of Navratri and it goes on till Vijayadashami as it is considered that Goddess Durga fought a battle against demon Mahishasur, and she finally killed Mahishasur on the tenth day thus signifying the victory of good over evil and maintaining Dharma in the universe. This is also why the nine different forms or avatars of Goddess Durga are worshipped over the nine days of Navratri (one on each day) and on the tenth day, Durga is celebrated as Vijayadashmi. It's also on the tenth day that the idols of Durga are immersed in water by devotees signifying the departure of the Goddess from the material world after maintaining Dharma.
Meanwhile, Dussehra is marked as Mysuru Dasara in the Indian city of Mysuru. The festival signifies the day when another avatar of Durga, Chamundeshwari, killed Mahishasur. Thus the Mysuru palace, which is the formal residence of the dynasty of Wadiyar and the official seat of the Kingdom of Mysuru, is illuminated with lights and beautifully decorated as well. Processions of Goddess Chamundeshwari on top of an elephant along with may decorated elephants are also taken throughout the city.
In North India, Dussehra marks the day when Lord Ram, considered the seventh reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, killed Ravana. Thus, here the celebrations include the burning of three huge effigies-- Ravana's, Kumbhakaran's (Ravan's brother) and Meghnad’s (Ravan's son)— thus signifying the victory of good over evil.
Dussehra brings joy and victory to all
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, October 21, 2018: The Times of India
Dussehra or Vijayadashami - The Day of Victory
Navaratri, culminating with Dussehra, is a cultural festival of great importance and significance for all. It is a festival that is all about the goddess. In Karnataka, Dussehra is about Chamundi, in Bengal it is about Durga. Like this, it is about various goddesses in different places, but essentially it is about the feminine goddess or the feminine divinity.
Dussehra – The tenth day of celebration
Navaratri is replete with symbolism about vanquishing evil and wanton nature, and about having reverence for all aspects of life and even for the things and objects that contribute to our wellbeing. The nine days of Navaratri are classified as per the three basic qualities of tamas, rajas and sattva. The first three days are tamas, where the goddess is fierce, like Durga and Kali. The next three days are Lakshmi related – gentle but materially oriented goddesses. The last three days are dedicated to Saraswati, which is sattva. It is related to knowledge and enlightenment.
Vijayadashami – The Day of Victory
Investing in these three will make your life in a certain way. If you invest in tamas, you will be powerful in one way. If you invest in rajas, you will be powerful in a different way. If you invest in sattva, you will be powerful in a completely different way. But if you go beyond all this, it is no longer about power, it is about liberation. After Navaratri, the tenth and final day is Vijayadashami – that means you have conquered all these three qualities. You did not give into any of them, you saw through every one of them. You participated in every one of them, but you did not invest in any one of them. You won over them. That is Vijayadashami, the day of victory. This brings home the message of how being in reverence and gratitude towards everything that matters in our lives leads to success and victory.
Dussehra – Devotion and Reverence
Of the many things that we are in touch with, of the many things that contribute in making and creating our lives, the most important devices that we employ in making a success of our lives are our own body and mind. Being in reverence towards the very earth that you walk upon, towards the air that you breathe, the water that you drink, the food that you eat, the people that you come in touch with and everything else that you use, including your body and mind, will lead us to a different possibility as to how we can live. Being in a state of reverence and devotion towards all these aspects is a way of ensuring success in every endeavor that we partake in.
Celebrate Dussehra With Joy & Love
Traditionally, in Indian culture, Dussehra was always full of dances, where the whole community mixed, met and mingled. But because of external influences and invasions over the past two hundred years, we have lost that today. Otherwise Dussehra was always very vibrant. Even now it is still so in many places, but it is being lost in the rest of the country. We have to bring it back. The Vijayadashami or Dussehra festival is of a tremendous cultural significance for all who live in this land – irrespective of their caste, creed or religion – and should be celebrated with gaiety and love. It is my wish and my blessings that all of you should celebrate Dussehra with total involvement, joy and love.
Customs
Bengal
(From the group ‘77 Revived’)
Vijaya Dashami or Bijoya Dashami as we Bengalis say, is a joyous day tinged with a little bit of sadness as it marks the end of the Durga Puja for the year. On this day Bengalis meet elders, relatives and acquaintances and wrap their arms around them in friendship. Every visitor is met with a box of sweets and the words Subho Bijoya..
Shami leaves
(From the group ‘77 Revived’)
In some parts of the country there is a tradition today to worship weapons and to exchange Shami leaves ( शमी / आपटें ची पानें / Scientific Name -Prosopic cinerania from Fabaceae Family ) as a symbol of good will . It was started after the Pandavs completed their 12 year exile and before they defeated the Kauravs in the War .
Legal issues
HC slams SDMC for treating effigy-makers as encroachers
Where will the effigy makers go: HC to SDMC, September 21, 2017: The Hindu
How will Dussehra be celebrated if there are no effigies, the Delhi High Court asked the SDMC while pulling it up for calling effigy-makers encroachers of public land.
An HC bench observed the authorities allow construction of buildings for "rich" people but remove the "poor", calling them encroachers.
Lucknow: Aishbagh
Godhooli Sharma, Oct 2, 2022: The Times of India
Lucknow : It will be curtains on a historic tradition at the centuries-old Aishbagh Ramlila in Lucknow this year. The Ramlila committee has decided to discontinue the 300-yearold practice of burning effigies of Kumbhkaran and Meghnad along with that of Ravan this Dussehra.
The reason, said organisers, is that all Ramayana texts mention that Kumbhkaran and Meghnad had tried to dissuade Ravan from fighting against Lord Ram, though eventually they too participated in the war when the demon king rejected their advice.
The idea was first mooted by the Aishbagh Dussehra and Ramlila Committee president Harishchandra Agrawal and secretary Aditya Dwivedi five years ago, but it was rejected by other members onthe grounds that burning effigies of the trio was part of a 300-year-old tradition.
“A thorough reading of Ramcharitmanas and other versions of the Ramayana reveals that Ravan’s son Meghnad had told him that LordRam was the incarnation of Vishnu and they should not wage war against him. Ravan’s brother Kumbhkaran, on the other hand, told him that Sita, whom the Lanka king had kidnapped, was none other than Jagdamba and if he doesn’tfree her, he might end up losing everything, including his life. However, Ravan ignored their suggestions and ordered them to fight. This is why, we thought, burning effigies of Meghnad and Kumbhkaran is wrong,” said Dwivedi.
“After lot of debate, we were able to convince all members this year that the tradition needs to be discontinued and there was unanimity on the decision,” said Agrawal. Ramlila and Dussehra celebrations are believed to have been started at Aishbagh by sage-poet Goswami Tulsidas in the 16th century. The tradition to burn effigies was introduced about three centuries ago. Both the traditions were conducted by seers till the 1857 first war of independence. The nawabs of Lucknow also used to visit the Ramlila. After the uprising, the celebrations were carried forward by social workers.
