
Dussehra (literally means the tenth day) is one of the significant Hindu festivals, celebrated with much vigour in the entire country. The occasion marks the triumph of Lord Rama over the demon king, Ravana, the victory of good over evil.
The festivities commence on the first night in the month of Ashwin (September-October). The festivities last for ten days, of which nine nights are spent in worship, 'Navaratri'. The tenth day is devoted to the worship of goddess Durga, who occupies a special position in the Hindu pantheon of gods and goddesses. She is 'Shakti', the cosmic energy which rules over all beings.
Beautiful idols of the Mother Goddess are worshipped in elaborate pandals for nine days, and on the ninth day, these are carried out in procession for immersion (visarjan) in a river or pond.ate Some legends also associate this day to the destruction of mighty demon Mahishasur by Goddess Durga. She further commands special reverence because of the belief that Lord Rama prayed to Goddess Durga before he commenced the war against Ravana in Lanka.
In Tamil Nadu, the first three days are dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and prosperity, the next three days to Saraswati, Goddess of learning and arts and the last three days to Shakti (Durga).
In Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, families arrange dolls(Bommai Kolu) on artificially constructed steps and prepare an elaborate spread of lamps and flowers. Women traditionally exchange gifts of coconuts, clothes and sweets. Scenes selected from various stories in the epics and puranas are displayed. Traditionally women and children, and now men too visit their friends and acquaintances during these 10 days. They sing songs, tell stories that the dolls might depict and eat a dish made out of chickpeas (choondal).
In southern India, Vijayadashami, which is celebrated on the day of Dussehra, is an auspicious occasion for children to commence their education in classical dance and music, and to pay homage to their teachers. In Kerala, this day is celebrated as the day of beginning of education by writing the first letters by the kids.
Dussehra is the most important festival in Karnataka. The Dussehra of Mysore is quite famous where caparisoned elephants lead a colourful procession through the decorated streets of the city.
The festival is also celebrated with intense fervour and zest, in West Bengal, in the form of Durga Puja. In Punjab, Navaratri is taken as a period of fasting. In Gujarat, the evenings and nights are occasions for the fascinating Garba dance. The women dance around an earthen lamp while singing devotional songs accompanied by rhythmic clapping of hands.
In northern India, the colourful Ramlila is performed wherein various incidents from Rama's life are enacted. The most popular themes are the destruction of Ravana and Bharat Milap, that is the reunion of Ram and his estranged brother Bharat, on the former's return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile.
Brilliantly decorated tableaux and processions depicting various facets of Rama's life are taken out during the Dussehra festivals. On the tenth day (the Vijayadasmi day), colossal effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhkarna and son Meghnath are placed in vast open spaces. Rama, accompanied by his consort Sita and his brother Lakshmana, arrive and shoot arrows of fire at these effigies, which are filled with explosive material. It results in a mighty blast, which is welcomed with shouts of merriment and triumph from the spectators.