Story & Traditional Celebrations
Ravana, the King of Lanka, was a demon. He once kidnapped Lord Rama’s wife – Goddess Sita and took her to his kingdom of Lanka. Lord Rama, along with his brother Lakshman, his devoted follower Hanuman and an army of monkeys fought a great battle to rescue his wife Sita. The war against Ravana lasted for ten days and finally, Lord Rama (the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu), killed the great demon Ravana. Goddess Sita returned to her husband Lord Rama and they made their way back to Ayodhya.
Thus, in the months of Ashwin and Kartik, Hindus observe a 9 day ceremony of fasts known as the Navratri. Dussehra is the last day of the Navratri festival and it falls on the 10th day of the shining moon of the Hindu month of Ashwin (around September or October). Both Navratri and Dussehra are celebrated throughout the country following different rituals. ‘Ramlila’ – an enactment of the life of Lord Rama, is held during the nine days celebrations preceding Dussehra. On the tenth day (Dussehra or Vijayadashami), large effigies of Ravana, his son Meghnadh and brother Kumbhakarna are set to fire. The theatrical enactment of this dramatic sequence is held throughout the country to symbolize the victory of good over evil.
In the state of West Bengal also, this multi-day festival is celebrated for ten days and known as ‘Durga Puja’ where Goddess Durga is worshipped. The festival is celebrated with great zeal & enthusiasm. Since Durga Puja festival coincides with Vijayadashami (Dussehra) therefore, these two important festivals take place on the tenth day of Sharad Navaratri.Durga Puja epitomizes the triumph (victory) of warrior Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. The festival of Durga Puja is identified by different regional names throughout the country. The various regional names of this festival are- Navratri Puja, Mysore Dussehra, Kullu Dussehra, Saraswati Puja, Ayudha Puja, etc. Out of all, Mysore Dussehra and Kullu Dussehra are comparatively more famous than the other. The ’Mysore Dussehra’ is held with pomp and gaiety in the city of Mysore, Karnataka and people worship Goddess Durga, also known as Chamundeshwari or Mahishasura Mardini for killing the demon Mahishasura. Also, the ‘Kullu Dussehra’ is celebrated in the Kullu Valley, Himachal Pradesh with equal enthusiasm. In Kullu, the Rath Yatra of the idol of Lord Ragunath is led by the Kullu Raja and village deities, which is known as the running of the Gods.
When is Dussehra 2017?
This year, Dussehra will fall on Saturday, 30th September.
Popular Dussehra Poems:
- Aa gaya pawan Dussehra
Phir Hume Sandesh Dene,
Aa Gaya Pawan Dusshera
Tum Sankaton ka ho ghanera
Ho na aakul man ye tera
Sankato me tam chhatenge
Hoga phir sundar savera
Dharya ka tu le sahara!
Dwesh kitna bhi ho gehra
Ho na kalushit man ye tera
Phir ye tute dil milenge
hoga jab premi chitera
Ban shami ka paat pyara!
Satya ho kitna prtaarit
Par na ho sakta parajit
Roop uska aur nikhre
Janta hai vishwa sara
Ban vijaya ‘Swarnim Sitara’!
- Hoga Tabhi Dussehra
Kissa ek purana bacchon
Lanka me tha Ravan,
Raja ek Mahaabhimani,
Kampta jisse kan-kan.
Us Abhimani Ravan ne tha
Sabko khub sataya
Ramchandra jab aaya van me,
Sita ko har laya.
Jhilmil Jhilmil Sone ki
Lanka pairo pe jhukti
Aur kal ki gati bhi bhai
Uske aage rukti.
Sundar thi lanka, lanka me
Sona hi sona tha
Lekin punya nahi papon ka
Bhara hua dona tha
Tabhi raam aaye bandar, bhalu
Ki sena lekar
Sadh nishana sacchai ka
Teer chalaya paina
Lobh paap ki Lanka dhoo dhoo
Jal kar rakh ho gai!
Diye Jale tabhi dharti par
Angeenat Lakho lakh!
Isliye to aaj dhoom hai,
Ravan aaj mara tha.
kate sheesh das das bari
Utara bhar dhara ka
Lekin socho , ki Rawan
Phir na chhal kar paye
Koi abhimani na phir
Kala raj chalaye!
Tabhi hogi sacchi diwali
Hoga tabhi Dusshera
Jagmag Jagmag hoga jab
Phir sacchai ka chehra!
- Vijay Satya ki hui hamesha
Vijay satya ki hui hamesha, Haari sada buraayi hai,
Aaya parv Dussehra kehata karna sada bhalaayi hai.
Ravan tha dambhi abhimaani, usane chhal-bal dikhalaaya,
bees bhuja dus sees kataaye, apana kunaba marvaaya.
Apani hi karani se lanka sone ki jalwaayi hai.
Mann mein koi kahin buraayi Ravan jaisi nahi pale,
aur andheri waali chaadar ujiyaare ko nahi chhale.
Jisane bhi abhimaan kiya hai, usane muh ki khaayi hai.
Aaj sabhi ki yahi soch hai, mel-jol khush haali ho.
andhakaar mit jaaye saara, ghar ghar mein Diwali ho.
Mili badaayi sada usi ko jisane ki achchhayi hai
