Vijaya Dasami celebrations and legends behind
Posted on: 30/Sep/2017 9:47:29 AM
There are a lot of festivals and celebrations in India and the country is in fact known for such diverse culture. Across the country, we enjoy various kinds of traditional festivals of which Dussehra is a prominent one. Throughout the country, across different parts, this festival is celebrated with fun and respect and devotion. With this celebration, we commemorate the significance of Dussehra.
The festival is also called by the names like Vijaya Dashami, Dasara or Dashain. There are different forms of celebration of this festival across the country. It is called by the names Dashain in Nepal or Dussehra in northern India or Vijaya Dasami in south India.
In spite of the difference in name to refer the festival, the kind of celebration we make is quite the same!
Why Vijaya Dasami?
People of all age groups celebrate the festival right from children to adults to elders. We have 2 prominent stories for the festival. The first is associated with lord Rama and the second one is pertaining to goddess Durga. Dashain festival basically boasts of the victory of good over evil. On the day, statues of Kumbhakarna, Indrajit or Ravana are burned as a sign of victory of Lord Rama.
Dasara
Ramanaya, one of the two great Indian epics state that Lord Rama had killed Ravana on Dussehra- the tenth day. It further states that Ravana had abducted Rama�s spouse Sita. The end of rule by Ravana signifies the end of evil spirit.
In most northern parts of India, throughout Navarathri, Ram Leela is performed in the country. This enactment of Ramayana as a play is loved by everyone.
Ram Leela
The other legend is pertaining to goddess Durga. It states that the demon king Mahishasura was unbeatable by all the three lords including Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Siva. Hence, they created Goddess Durga to destroy Mahishasura. Durga is an avatar o Maha Sakthi. She rivaled with the demon king and attained victory. This victory by Durga over Mahishasura is celebrated as Vijaya Dasami.
Durga Maa
All the 9 days before Dussehra are celebrated to worship the 9 different avatars of goddess Durga. During these days, women in households of states including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka arrange Kolu � small dolls on artificial steps. These are adorned and beautiful lamps and flowers and used for decoration.
Bommala koluvu
Regarding the origin of Dussehra, there is yet another story stated by the Hindu epic Mahabharata. For a period of 12 years, Kauravas had banished Pandavas. For one year, they went in disguise as Kauravas defeated Dharmaraj in gambling. Hence, Pandavas had to live in the woods for 12 long years and an additional one year in disguise. During this period, they kept all their weapons hidden in a Shami tree. Annually, during their exile period, they would visit the tree and worship it and also goddess Durga. Pandavas fought with Kauravas and won the battle on the day of Dashami. This victory of good over evil is thus celebrated as Vijaya Dasami.
There are many more stories said about the e Dussehra festival. Regardless of these stories, the festival is basically a celebration of kindness, peace, victory and love!
