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| Dussehra marks one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar. |
Festival Details:
One of the large festivals celebrated in most parts of India is Dussehra. The festival is celebrated with zest and festivities because it also marks the start of the winter season when the long, unbearable, hot summer. Dussehra marks the victory of Ram over the demon king Ravana, and therefore the rescue of his wife Sita.
In north India, gigantic effigies of the ten-headed Ravana and his brothers ar set aflame amidst bursting of crackers. Fairs ar typically persisted this occasion with lots to eat, purchase and enjoy.Dussehra means that the Tenth Day, being the tenth day of the bright half of Ashvin. these days is also called Vijayadashmi, or the victory Tenth, due to the victory of Ram over Ravana.
Celebrations:
Dussehra is one of the significant Hindu festivals, celebrated with a lot of joy and happiness within the entire country.
The occasion marks the triumph of Lord Ram over Ravana, the victory of excellent over evil. brightly decorated tableaux and processions depiction various episodes from Ram's life ar taken out. On the tenth day, or the Vijayadasami, colossal effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhkarna and son Meghnad ar placed in vast open areas. Actors dressed as Ram, his consort Sita, and brother Lakshman arrive and shoot arrows of fireside at these effigies, that ar filled with firecrackers.
The result's a deafening blast, and an explosion of sound and light enhanced by the shouts of merriment and triumph of the spectators.
Also a part of the celebration is that the Ram Lila or the dramatic depiction of episodes from the lives of Ram, Sita, and Lakshman. All the regions across the country have evolved their own distinctive vogue, and performances at different places ar done in the native language.
Rituals:
As Dussehra is preceded by the Navratri or the 9 days of the worship of god Durga, some rituals associated with the goddess also are carried out that day.
The rituals of Durga Puja involve the standard puja of goddess Durga along with Lord Ram.
Legends:
On these days in Satyug, Ram (the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu), killed the good demon and king of Lanka, Ravan, who had abducted Ram's wife Sita. Ram, along, along with his brother Lakshman, follower Hanuman, and an army of monkeys fought an excellent battle for 10 days to rescue his wife Sita.
According to another story, Kautsa, the young son of Devdatt, a Brahmin, was living within the town of Paithan. after studying under the guidance of Rishi Varatantu, he insisted on his guru acceptive a gift, or gurudakshina. initially the guru refused however later asked for a hundred and forty million gold coins, 100 million for every of the topics instructed.
The obedient student visited the King Raghu to ask for the money, because the king was renowned for his generosity. within 3 days the king created the God of Wealth Kuber build a rain of gold coins near the shanu and apati trees.
when giving the promised amount to the guru, Kautsa distributed the rest of the coins among the needy on the day of Dussehra. Even today, in Ayodhya, the capital of King Raghu, folks loot the leaves of the apati trees and gift to every different as sone or gold.In ancient times kings used the feast of Dussehra to cross the frontier and fight against their neighboring kingdoms.
This border crossing is thought as seema ollanghan and Dussehra marked the beginning of the war season.
This was also the day to worship the weapons. according to legend, Arjuna, one of the Pandav princes, hid his weapons in a very shami tree once the Pandavs were banished into the forests.
when one year he returned from the forest and on the day of Dussehra, he retrieved his weapons and worshipped them along with the shami tree. hence the custom of worshiping weapons on this day started.
Regional Celebrations:
In north India the Dussehra celebration includes the Ram Lila that consists of plays, recitations and music that recall the life of the legendary hero, Ram. In Delhi, several amateur troupes perform Ram Lila based on the epic story of Ramayana throughout the nine-day worship of goddess Durga. On the tenth day, elaborate processions lead to the Ram Lila grounds wherever immense cracker-stuffed effigies of the demon Ravana and his brother and son explode to the cheers of thousands of spectators.
Kullu, a small city in Himachal Pradesh, is witness to unique Dussehra celebrations. Since the times of maharajah Ranjit Singh, Dussehra celebrations here begin 3 days when they are doing within the rest of India.
On the primary day of the festival, the idol of Raghunathji is mounted on a splendid rath (chariot), and pulled from its permanent place within the Dholpur maidan to a different a part of the meadow. Before starting the auspicious ceremony of pulling the rath, the descendants of Ranjit Singh circle it and pray.
On the second day, a Devta durbar (Council of Gods) is held, with Raghunathji presiding. On the last day of the festival, the chariot of Raghunathji is drawn amidst fanfare to the banks of the stream Beas.
Here a pile of wood and grass is set on fire to symbolize the burning of Lanka and 5 animals-a crab, a cock, a fish, a buffalo and a male goat ar sacrificed. The people then immerse themselves in revel. Lugri, the traditional Kullu drink, flows by the gallon.
In Tamil Nadu, the first 3 days ar dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi, goddess of Wealth and Prosperity, the next 3 days to Saraswati, goddess of Learning and arts and therefore the last 3 days to Shakti (Durga).
In Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, families decorate dolls (Bommai Kolu) and prepare an elaborate unfold of lamps and flowers. women traditionally exchange gifts of coconuts, clothes and sweets.
Vijayadasami is additionally considered an auspicious occasion for kids to commence their education in classical dance and music, and to pay homage to their teachers.
In Mysore, it's celebrated with a pomp and pageantry reminiscent of medieval times. In bengal and other parts of eastern India, Dussehra is celebrated as Durga Puja. Devotees wear new clothes and celebrate with music, dance and drama. On the last day, pictures of the warrior goddess ar taken out in procession and immersed in a very river or the ocean.
Places to visit:
Hinduism being the most widely followed religion of the country, most of the Hindu festivals ar celebrated everywhere the country. almost each a part of the country has its own specific way of celebrating this day of victory of good over evil.
Be it Delhi, Haryana, Kullu and Mysore, one is sure to find celebration and revelry combined with religious rituals on this day.
Location :India
30th September 2017
(Saturday)
Vijay Muhurat = 14:08 to 14:55
Duration = 0 Hours 47 Mins
Aparahna Puja Time = 13:21 to 15:42
Duration = 2 Hours 21 Mins
Dashami Tithi Begins = 23:49 on 29/Sep/2017
Dashami Tithi Ends = 01:35 on 1/Oct/2017
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