India is a country with different cultures. The diversity of these cultures is personified by the number of holidays are celebrated throughout the country. Many of these festivals are religious festivals, which has its roots in ancient Hindu mythology. There are also a number of festivals that celebrate the seasons.
Dussera is one such festival that is celebrated on the tenth day of the lunar month of ashvin in the Hindu calendar. In the Gregorian calendar this celebration falls in September or October. The festival is known by different names in different parts of the country.
The celebration of Dussera begins with Navratri or 'the Festival of nine nights'. Navratri is the celebration of the Mother Goddess or Shakti and her nine forms. Dussera is the culmination of this celebration.
It was on this day that Lord Rama, the ruler of Ayodhya, killed Raavan. Raavan had abducted Sita, who was the wife of Rama and taken her to Lanka. A great battle was fought and in the end Raavan was defeated by Rama. Since then, Rama's victory has been celebrated as Vijayadashami.
During the nine day celebration, many people perform Aditya Homa as a Shanti Yagna. These rituals are performed to rid the household of the ten bad qualities which are represented by the ten heads of Raavan. The Ram Lila which is an enactment of the life of Lord Rama is performed during the days of the festival. The main celebration of Dussera involves the burning of effigies of Raavan.
Alternately, Dussera is also celebrated as the victory of the Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasur. It is said that Mahishasur grew very powerful and lead the Asuras to defeat the Devas. The energies of the Devas joined into a single mass of incandescent energy called Shakti.
A beautiful woman with ten hands virgin appeared a band of powerful rays that emerged from the mouth of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. She received special weapons of the gods. She was the goddess Durga, who was riding on a lion.
Durga fought a battle with Mahishasur that raged for nine days and nights and finally defeated the buffalo demon on the tenth day. This is why Dussera is also known as Navratra or Durgotsava. Devotees submerge clay statues of Durga on the day of Dussera.
Although Dussera is celebrated in many different ways across the country, the main message of the festival remains the same. It is the celebration of the victory of good over evil. The burning of effigies of Raavan is an invitation for devotees to burn the evil within them and to follow the path of truth and goodness.
Dussera is one such festival that is celebrated on the tenth day of the lunar month of ashvin in the Hindu calendar. In the Gregorian calendar this celebration falls in September or October. The festival is known by different names in different parts of the country.
The celebration of Dussera begins with Navratri or 'the Festival of nine nights'. Navratri is the celebration of the Mother Goddess or Shakti and her nine forms. Dussera is the culmination of this celebration.
It was on this day that Lord Rama, the ruler of Ayodhya, killed Raavan. Raavan had abducted Sita, who was the wife of Rama and taken her to Lanka. A great battle was fought and in the end Raavan was defeated by Rama. Since then, Rama's victory has been celebrated as Vijayadashami.
During the nine day celebration, many people perform Aditya Homa as a Shanti Yagna. These rituals are performed to rid the household of the ten bad qualities which are represented by the ten heads of Raavan. The Ram Lila which is an enactment of the life of Lord Rama is performed during the days of the festival. The main celebration of Dussera involves the burning of effigies of Raavan.
Alternately, Dussera is also celebrated as the victory of the Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasur. It is said that Mahishasur grew very powerful and lead the Asuras to defeat the Devas. The energies of the Devas joined into a single mass of incandescent energy called Shakti.
A beautiful woman with ten hands virgin appeared a band of powerful rays that emerged from the mouth of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. She received special weapons of the gods. She was the goddess Durga, who was riding on a lion.
Durga fought a battle with Mahishasur that raged for nine days and nights and finally defeated the buffalo demon on the tenth day. This is why Dussera is also known as Navratra or Durgotsava. Devotees submerge clay statues of Durga on the day of Dussera.
Although Dussera is celebrated in many different ways across the country, the main message of the festival remains the same. It is the celebration of the victory of good over evil. The burning of effigies of Raavan is an invitation for devotees to burn the evil within them and to follow the path of truth and goodness.
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