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Vijayadashami Festival

Vijayadashami (विजयादशमी) Festival, which is also known as Dasara, Dussehra, or Dashani, is a Hindu festival celebrated every year all over India. Typically, this festival is observed in September or October at the end of Durga Puja or Navratri. Significantly, the festival symbolizes the factory of good over evil. 

Dussehra marks the end of Durga Puja. Commemorating goddess Durga’s victory against the buffalo demon Mahishasur to restore and protect dharma. Mahishasur was the son of Asura Rambha, and she buffaloed Mahisi. He had gained the boon that no man could kill him, so he waged war against all the devas. In the battle between the devas and Asuras, the devas were defeated by Mahishasur. Then the Mata Durga battled with Mahishasur and killed him. However, Goddess Durga fought for nine nights against Mahishasur. The culmination of this battle on the tenth day signifies the victory of goddess Durga, which is why it is called Navratri and Vijayadashami as a celebration of his ultimate defeat. 

In addition the festival celebrates the victory of Pardhu Shri Ram’s victory over the demon king Ravana.

Lord Ram, the king of Ayodhya. Her father Dasaratha sent them for 11 years of vanvas. He, along with  his wife Mata Sita, and brother Laxman along the banks of the river Godavari, where they build cottages and live off the land. Meanwhike, Ravan, the king of Lanka, captured Sita and went him to Lanka. Ravan had a boon that he could not be killed by gods, demons, or spirits. Lord Ram went to Lanka with Hanuman ji, Sugrivahis, and his army to bring back Mata Sita. The battle takes place between Lord Ram and Asura Ravan, in which Lord Ram kills Dashanan’s (ten-headed) Ravan, restoring dharma in the world. This is why Vijayadashami is seen as a celebration of triumph of good over evil.

Vijayadashami is a combination of two Sanskrit words: Vijay (विजय), which means victory, and Dasami (दशमी), which means tenth day. This means that the festival on the tenth day celebrates the victory of good over evil. 

 

 Celebrate Vijayadashami festival in all over India.

• Vijayadashami festival in North India 

In north India, Vijayadashami is celebrated in the humor of Lord Ram. In since many places in north India, the Ramlila dramatic performance was performed by people. The Ramlila was inspired by the Ramcharitmanas, which were written by Tulsidas. Entire story of Lord Ram was performed by artists for 9 days, which ended on the night of Dussehra, when the victory of Rama was celebrated by burning the effigies of the evil Ravan and his sena.

 

• Vijayadashami festival in Chhattisgarh (Bastar)

Meanwhile in Chhattisgarh, Bastar Dussehra is the longest celebration in the world, celebrated for 75 days. It is one of the famous celebrations in other countries. People also came to see Bastar Dussehra. Interestingly the local people do not celebrate the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. Rather, the festivities and rituals pay homage to Goddess Danteshwari, one of the 52 Shakti Peeths existing in the country.

 

• Vijayadashami festival in Himachal Pradesh (Kullu)

Kullu Dussehra started after the other Dussehra ended. It’s celebrated for 7 days. Locals call Dashmi to this festival. The locals in Kullu carry out a procession wherein they carry the idols of different gods from their homes on their heads and to meet Lord Raghunath in the temple. Hundreds of gods are brought to the temple grounds on the day of Dussehra.

 

• Vijayadashami in Karnataka (Mysore)

Similarly, in Mysore the festival is celebrate with greatness. On Vijayadashami the royal Durbar was open for locals. They decorate elephants, and with traditional music, they march in the city. Interestingly they do not burn Ravan in Dussehra. Dussehra in Mysore started as a cultural celebration about 600 years ago, initiated by the Vijayanagara emperors.

 

• Vijayadashami in West Bengal 

In West Bengal cities like Kolkata, Bangalore is celebrated as Durga Puja. In brief it is also called Durga Puja or Durgotsava.The festival marks goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasur to restore and protect dharma. It is also celebrated to welcome the union of the Goddess Durga with her sons, Ganesh and Kartikeya, and husband, Lord Shiva. Notably the celebrations lasts for 6 days. This festival, ladies give goddess Durga sindur, bhog, flowers, etc. Ladies also play with sindur with each other with sindur.

 

Vijayadashami is more than a festival. Vijayadashami is the festival of the factory of good over evil. It is a celebration of life, virtue, and community. It teaches valuable lessons about resilience, justice, and the power of good.