Dussehra-Vijyadashmi: Religious Significance & Celebration

 

Dussehra-Vijyadashmi: Religious Significance & Celebration

“No matter how powerful evil may seem, it will one day crumble under its own weight.

No matter how dim it may be, the light of truth will always prevail.”

Dussehra 2023 Date:

The festival of Dussehra or Vijaydashmi will be celebrated on 24th October this year. This day is celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil. Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day of Shukla Paksha of Ashwin month. It is a festival celebrated the very next day Navratri is over. In 2023, October 24th will be celebrated as Dussehra. It is also celebrated as Vijay Parv or Vijayadashami.

In some places in India, the effigy of Ravan is not burnt on this day but worshipped. These places are as follows – Kolar in Karnataka, Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh, Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh and Baijnath in Himachal.

 Introduction:

Ramlila is staged for nine days during Navratri. After which the programme of Ravana Dahan is organized on Vijaya Dashami. The effigies of Kumbhakarna and Meghnad are also burnt along with Ravana on the day of Dussehra. Through burning effigies, a message is given to the people that how Lord Ram put an end to evil by killing Ravana.

This festival of Dussehra is also called Vijayadashami. It is the festival of triumph of victory over evil. In today's time, it is a symbol of victory of good over evil. Evil can be in any form like anger, untruth, envy, jealousy, sorrow, laziness etc. Eliminating any internal evil is also a self-victory and we should celebrate it every year on Vijay Dashami by eliminating such evil from our side, so that one day we can rule over all our senses and shortcomings.

 Significance of Dussehra or Vijayadashami:

It is a festival to celebrate the victory of good conduct over bad conduct. Dussehra is celebrated in different way in different states. For example, for farmers, it is a celebration of the arrival of new crops at home. In ancient times, tools and weapons are worshipped on this day, as they saw it as a celebration of victory in wars. But there is only one explicit reason behind all this, the triumph of good over evil. For the farmers, it is a celebration of the crops that come in the form of victory of hard work and for the soldiers it is a celebration of victory over the enemy in the war.

 Stories related to Dussehra festival:

1. Festival of victory of Rama over Ravana

2. Durga Mata was victorious after killing the demon Mahisasur

3. The exile of the Pandavas was over.

4. Goddess Sati burnt herself in the fire of yagna.

 

How is it Celebrated?

• Vijayadashami is the festival of victory of good over evil. This festival is celebrated in different parts of the country for different reasons:
•  Some devotees celebrate it as Bijoy Dashami, the end of Durga Puja, as the victory of Maa Durga over the demon Mahishasura, who had terrorized the gods.
• The procession is accompanied by music and chants carrying the idols of Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya. Idols are immersed in water bodies and bid farewell. Married women apply vermilion on each other's forehead and people exchange greetings as ‘sindoor khela’.
• Ø In some states it is celebrated as Dussehra. They celebrate this festival as the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. The effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna & Meghnaad, which symbolize evil are burnt with fireworks.
• Ø On this occasion, Arjuna & Pandavas defeated all the Kaurav warriors. 
• Goddess Aparajita is worshipped on the day of Dussehra. 
• Ø Shami Puja is also an important ritual performed on Vijayadashami. It should be done in the afternoon. Weapons are also worshipped on the day of Dussehra.

 Books/Weapons Worship:

• ·        Weapon worship is done on Dussehra.
• ·        On the day of Dussehra, people wake up early in the morning and wear clean/new clothes.
• ·        Worshipping in Vijay Muhurta on this day is considered very auspicious.
• ·        Books or weapons are worshipped on this day.
• ·        All the weapons are sanitized by sprinkling Ganges water on them.
• ·        After this, tilak with turmeric or kumkum on all the weapons and offer flowers and Shami leaves.
• ·        Donations/charity/dakshina has big significance along with food provided to the poor on this day.
• ·        On this day, elders are respected by touching their feet and seeking blessings from them.

 Changing form of Dussehra:

In today's time, festivals are taking a modern form by drifting away from reality, which has reduced its importance somewhere. For example:

It was a custom to visit each other's house on Dussehra, now these customs have taken the form of mobile calls and internet messages.

People did not go empty handed, so Shami leaves were given to them, but now instead people have started carrying sweets and gifts, due to which it has become a festival of competition with wasteful expenditure.

The legend behind the wrong doings of Ravana & its consequences are remembered, so that everyone should get a message that ego and evil are destructive, So Ravana’s effigy is burnt, but now various types of firecrackers are burst, due to which the wasteful expenditure has increased. At the same time, the problem of pollution is increasing and the accidents are also increasing.

 

Dussehra Celebration in School:

 

The class assembly was based on highlighting the significance of the Dussehra festival. Through an interesting dance drama ‘Sage Valmiki’s Ashram’, the students learnt more about Ravana, his life, character and qualities. The drama provided a deep insight to the students about the undiscovered side of an efficient ruler, a great musician and singer, a learned scholar, a true devotee of Lord Shiva, a skillful and intelligent person, one who mastered the Shashtras and Vedas, composed the Shiv Tandav Strotram, who lifted Mountain Kailash, who contributed a lot to the field of Ayurveda, such an undisputed and incredible persona of Ravana with supernatural powers, but yet the most cruel and deadly demon, full of pride, anger and jealousy. The students understood the true essence of the Dussehra festival that bad qualities eventually lead to the devastation of the person. Ravana was killed by his own ego and pride. The students enjoyed the dance performances which added joy and fervour to the Dussehra celebration.

After the assembly the effigies of Ravana & Kumbhkaran & Meghnaad were burnt.

 

 

Conclusion:

Due to modernization the form of festivals is changing. And somewhere common citizens are getting away from them considering them as a form of religious ostentation. People have spoiled their real meanings. According to the Puranas, the form of all these festivals was very simple. There was no pretense in them but faith in God. Today they are getting so far away from their foundation that bitterness is being filled in the mind of men. People have started seeing them as a waste of time and money.

“Let us always follow the path shown by Lord Ram for a meaningful life.

Dussehra is the day to put an end to all the negativities and start afresh.

May we always follow the path of Dharma to have a happy and peaceful life.”