2013 Dussehra Celebrations Across India Oct 5-14,2013

 

The name Dussehra is derived from Sanskrit Dasha-hara literally means removal of ten (Dasha(ten) and Hara(defeat)) referring to Lord Rama's victory over the ten-headed demon king Ravana

Vijayadashmi or Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day of the month of Ashwin according to the Hindu Lunisolar Calendar which corresponds to September or October of the Gregorian Calendar 

The first nine days are celebrated as Maha Navratri and culminates on the tenth day as Dasara

People  perform "Aditya Homa" as a "Shanti Yagna" and recite Sundara Kanda of Srimad Ramayana for 5 days. These Yagna performances are thought to create powerful agents in the atmosphere surrounding the house that will keep the household environment clean and healthy. These rituals are intended to rid the household of the ten bad qualities, which are represented by 10 heads of Ravana as follows:

1. Kama vasana (Lust)
2. Krodha (Anger)
3. Moha (Attachment)
4. Lobha (Greed)
5. Mada (Over Pride)
6. Matsara (Jealousy)
7. Swartha (Selfishness)
8. Anyaaya (Injustice)
9. Amanavta (Cruelty)
10. Ahankara (Ego)

In most of northern India and some parts of Maharashtra, Dasha-Hara is celebrated more in honour of Rama. During these 10 days many plays and dramas based on Ramayana are performed. These are called Ram Lila.

Vijayadashami is celebrated in various ways in different parts of South India. Celebrations can take many forms, ranging from worshipping the goddess Chamundeshwari (Durga) to exhibiting colorful toys-, celebrated as Golu in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu from Navratri onwards

Vijayadashami is also the auspicious day for starting their formal education. Students keep their books and workers their tools for puja on the ninth day of Navratri (Ayudha Puja, Saraswathi Puja); these are taken back and used after puja on the tenth day (Vijayadasami).

Devotees hold earthen lamps and candles as they take part in the Maha Aarti ritual at Hindu deity Umiya Mata temple on the eighth night of Navratri in Surat,Gujarat

Devotees dance around Hindu deity Umiya Mata temple on the eighth night of Navratri in Surat 

An effigy of the Hindu demon king Ravana, stuffed with fire-crackers, burn on the grounds of Bhadrakali temple in Amritsar on October 13, 2013

 People prepare to burn an effigy of 10-headed demon king Ravana during Dussehra festival celebrations in Ahmedabad

 

An effigy of demon king Ravana burns during Dussehra celebrations in Amritsar, Punjab

 Effigies of the Hindu demon king Ravana (C), his brother Kumbhkuram (R), and son Meghanad, are set alight as Hindu devotees gather for their burning at dusk during the Hindu festival of Dussehra in New Delhi on October 13, 2013

 

An effigy of demon king Ravana burns at Subhash Maidan during Dussehra celebrations in Delhi

 

An effigy of demon king Ravana burns during Dussehra celebrations in Faridabad, Haryana

 

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi performs aarti of artistes enacting lord Ram and Lakshman during Dussehra celebrations at Subhash Maidan in New Delhi

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh applying tilak to an artist enacting lord Ram ahead of the Dussehra celebrations at Subhash Maidan in New Delhi

Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh try their hands on the bow and arrow during Dussehra celebrations in New Delhi