Dussehra is one of the major Hindu festivals of India. It is celebrated
throughout the country with great zeal and enthusiasm. People all over the
country participate in the occasion in their own way. It is the day when Lord
Rama killed the ten headed demon king Ravana and gave the throne of his kingdom
Lanka to his brother Vibhishana. Since that day, the day of Vijaya Dashmi is
considered to be auspicious and festive by the people of India and is celebrated
as the day that symbolizes the victory of ‘Good over Evil’.
People throughout the country celebrate the occasion in their own way. The
Dusshera of Mysore is very famous in terms of grandeur and splendor. Each region
of the country has its own specialty in the celebrations. While at some places
people engage in public processions, at some places people participate in Ram
Lila and some people organize Ravan Dahan in the city. Feasting and busting
crackers are also an important feature of the Dusshera celebrations. At many
places in the country, colorful fairs and exhibitions are also organized on this
occasion.
In most of the places in the country right from ten days before Dussehra, the
whole Ramayana is enacted in various parts of India. The occasion is also
celebrated in many countries where people of Hindu faith are residing in a very
similar manner to that of India. It is on the tenth day that people come out in
processions and chant the greatness of Lord Rama and enact the whole Rama-Ravana
war on the streets. It is said that this is a way to remind people of the fact
that truth always triumphs and motivate them to follow the path of ‘dharma’.
Dussehra symbolizes the conquest of good over evil. It is thus considered as an
auspicious day. Even today after burning the effigy of Ravana along with his
subordinates Meghanad and Kumbhkarana on the Dusshera celebrations, we simply
symbolize the power of goodness and humanity is above all kind of powers. As
Lord Rama fought a battle of ten days with Ravana, who had abducted his wife
Sita, the day of his victory is called ‘Vijaya Dashmi’, the tenth day of
Victory. It is said that this day symbolizes not as the victory of Ram but also
the victory of ‘mankind’. That is why this day is held in high regard by people
who believe that whenever there will be chaos in the society and evil will try
to take over humanity, God will appear in a the form of savior to protect his
devotees.
