Dussehra or Vijayadashami marks the end of the nine-day long festive journey of Navratras. While the northern and southern parts of the country commemorates it as the day of Ram's victory over Ravana, the eastern part remembers the slaying of Mahisasura - the buffalo demon by Durga.
Though each state adds its own flavour to Dussehra, its symbolism remains the same - the triumph of good over evil.
This year, the day is being celebrated on Saturday Sep 30,2017
In Sanskrit, the word 'Dus' means evil and 'Hara' stands for destruction and Dussehra essentially signifies restoration after chaos and destruction. It is symbolic of new beginnings and therefore marks the onset of preparations for the festival of lights - Diwali, which comes twenty days after the festival.
Enormous effigies of Ravana, who had abducted Sita, are burnt along with that of his brothers Meghanada and Kumbakaran in the northern and southern part of the country as part of Dussehra celebrations. Ramlila performances, which involve people enacting the life and glory of Ram through short plays, also form an essential part of the revelry.
The eastern part adds its own flavour to the grandeur where it is celebrated as Vijayadashmi - the day of Durga's return to heaven after purifying the world of evil forces. One of the most popular features of this day is the Shindur Khela, where married women smear vermillion on each other after making offerings to the goddess, to keep the joys of their married lives intact.
As Ravana is burnt, cries of joy fill up Ramlila maidaans. At the same time, people prepare to bid tearful farewell to the Goddess as she prepares for her ride back to heaven in a different vaahan each year - this year her vaahan is a horse.
The day of Dussehra also holds a lot of importance for Buddhists in the country as it is on this very day, that the famed king of the Mauryan Empire - Ashoka pledged non-violence and converted to Buddhism.
Irrespective of cultures or beliefs, the connotation of Dussehra remains the same - the onset of a new journey after the end of evil.
There are few places in the country where people worship Ravana not Rama on the occasion of Dussehra
1. Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh
Mandsaur is situated at the Madhya Pradesh-Rajasthan border. According to Ramayana, Mandsaur was the paternal home of Ravana’s wife Mandodari and that makes Ravana the son-in-law of Mandsaur. Hence he is worshipped and respected for his unparalleled knowledge and devout dedication to Lord Shiva. The place also has a 35-foot tall statue of Ravana. On Dussehra, people mourn the death of Ravana and hold prayers.
2. Bisrakh, Uttar Pradesh
Bisrakh derived its name after rishi Vishrava – father of Demon King Ravana. Bisrakh is known as the birthplace of Ravana and he is considered as maha-brahman here. It is believed that Vishrava discovered a Swayambhu (self manifested) Shiva Linga at Bisrakh and since then it has been worshipped by the locals as an honor to Rishi Vishrava and Ravana. In Bisrakh, people perform yagnas and peace prayers for Ravana’s departed soul during the Navratri festival.
3. Gadchiroli, Maharashtra
The Gond Tribals of Gadchiroli, Maharashtra worship Dashanan - Ravana and his son Meghnada as Gods. The tribals extend adulations to Ravana during a tribal festival – Falgun. As per Gond Tribals, Ravana was never demonized in the Valmiki Ramayana and Sage Valmiki clearly mentioned that Ravana did not do anything wrong or maligned Sita. It was in Tulsidas Ramayana that Ravana was considered a cruel king and devilish.
4. Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
Ravana Dahan is also not observed in the beautiful district of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh. As the legend goes, Ravana appeased Lord Shiva with his devotion and austerity at Baijnath, Kangra. It is believed that Lord Shiva granted him his boon here. Hence, Ravana is revered as a great devotee of Lord Shiva.
5. Mandya and Kolar, Karnataka
There are many Temples of Lord Shiva where Ravana is also worshipped for his unfathomable devotion for Lord Shiva. During the harvest festival, Lankadipathi (The King of Lanka) is worshipped by people of Kolar District in Karnataka. In a procession, alongwith Lord Shiva’s idol, a ten-headed (Dashanan) and twenty-armed idol of Ravana is also worshipped by locals. Similarly at Malavalli Taluka in the Mandya District of Karnataka, a temple of Ravana is visited by Hindu devotees to honor his dedication for Lord Shiva.
6. Jodhpur, Rajasthan
The Maudgil Brahmans of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, are said to have come from Lanka during Ravana’s marriage to Mandodari. Ravana’s marriage to Mandodari was performed at Ravan Kin Chanwari at Mandore. Rather than burning effigies of Ravana, Shraadh and Pind Daan is performed as per Hindu rituals for the Lankeshwar by his descendants – the Maudgil Brahmins of Jodhpur
Though each state adds its own flavour to Dussehra, its symbolism remains the same - the triumph of good over evil.
This year, the day is being celebrated on Saturday Sep 30,2017
In Sanskrit, the word 'Dus' means evil and 'Hara' stands for destruction and Dussehra essentially signifies restoration after chaos and destruction. It is symbolic of new beginnings and therefore marks the onset of preparations for the festival of lights - Diwali, which comes twenty days after the festival.
Enormous effigies of Ravana, who had abducted Sita, are burnt along with that of his brothers Meghanada and Kumbakaran in the northern and southern part of the country as part of Dussehra celebrations. Ramlila performances, which involve people enacting the life and glory of Ram through short plays, also form an essential part of the revelry.
As Ravana is burnt, cries of joy fill up Ramlila maidaans. At the same time, people prepare to bid tearful farewell to the Goddess as she prepares for her ride back to heaven in a different vaahan each year - this year her vaahan is a horse.
The day of Dussehra also holds a lot of importance for Buddhists in the country as it is on this very day, that the famed king of the Mauryan Empire - Ashoka pledged non-violence and converted to Buddhism.
Irrespective of cultures or beliefs, the connotation of Dussehra remains the same - the onset of a new journey after the end of evil.
There are few places in the country where people worship Ravana not Rama on the occasion of Dussehra
1. Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh
Mandsaur is situated at the Madhya Pradesh-Rajasthan border. According to Ramayana, Mandsaur was the paternal home of Ravana’s wife Mandodari and that makes Ravana the son-in-law of Mandsaur. Hence he is worshipped and respected for his unparalleled knowledge and devout dedication to Lord Shiva. The place also has a 35-foot tall statue of Ravana. On Dussehra, people mourn the death of Ravana and hold prayers.
2. Bisrakh, Uttar Pradesh
Bisrakh derived its name after rishi Vishrava – father of Demon King Ravana. Bisrakh is known as the birthplace of Ravana and he is considered as maha-brahman here. It is believed that Vishrava discovered a Swayambhu (self manifested) Shiva Linga at Bisrakh and since then it has been worshipped by the locals as an honor to Rishi Vishrava and Ravana. In Bisrakh, people perform yagnas and peace prayers for Ravana’s departed soul during the Navratri festival.
3. Gadchiroli, Maharashtra
The Gond Tribals of Gadchiroli, Maharashtra worship Dashanan - Ravana and his son Meghnada as Gods. The tribals extend adulations to Ravana during a tribal festival – Falgun. As per Gond Tribals, Ravana was never demonized in the Valmiki Ramayana and Sage Valmiki clearly mentioned that Ravana did not do anything wrong or maligned Sita. It was in Tulsidas Ramayana that Ravana was considered a cruel king and devilish.
4. Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
Ravana Dahan is also not observed in the beautiful district of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh. As the legend goes, Ravana appeased Lord Shiva with his devotion and austerity at Baijnath, Kangra. It is believed that Lord Shiva granted him his boon here. Hence, Ravana is revered as a great devotee of Lord Shiva.
5. Mandya and Kolar, Karnataka
There are many Temples of Lord Shiva where Ravana is also worshipped for his unfathomable devotion for Lord Shiva. During the harvest festival, Lankadipathi (The King of Lanka) is worshipped by people of Kolar District in Karnataka. In a procession, alongwith Lord Shiva’s idol, a ten-headed (Dashanan) and twenty-armed idol of Ravana is also worshipped by locals. Similarly at Malavalli Taluka in the Mandya District of Karnataka, a temple of Ravana is visited by Hindu devotees to honor his dedication for Lord Shiva.
6. Jodhpur, Rajasthan
The Maudgil Brahmans of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, are said to have come from Lanka during Ravana’s marriage to Mandodari. Ravana’s marriage to Mandodari was performed at Ravan Kin Chanwari at Mandore. Rather than burning effigies of Ravana, Shraadh and Pind Daan is performed as per Hindu rituals for the Lankeshwar by his descendants – the Maudgil Brahmins of Jodhpur
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