DUSSEHRA-THE VICTORY OF GOOD OVER EVIL

 Dussehra also known as Vijayadashami, Dasara or Dashain. The festival is celebrated at the end of Navratri every year. The festival is celebrated differently in various parts of the Indian subcontinent. 

In southern, eastern,  northestern part it is believed that Vijayadashami is the end of Durga puja  remembering Goddess Durga's victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura to restore dharma. 

In the northern, central and western states, the festival is called Dussehra. In these regions, it marks the end of Ramlila and remembers Lord Rama's victory over Ravana.

On the very same occasion, Arjuna alone defeated more than a million soldiers and defeated all Kuru warriors including Bhishma, Drona, Ashwatthama, Karna and Kripa, a good example of victory of good (Dharma) over evil (Adharma). 

   

RAMAYAN

Ravana kidnapped Sita and took her to his kingdom in Lanka (present day Sri Lanka). Rama asked Ravana to release her, but Ravana refused; the situation escalated and lead to a war. A deadly and fierce battle took place between Rama and Ravana in which Rama killed Ravana and ended his evil rule. Ravana had ten heads; the killing of one who has ten heads is called Dusshera. Finally, Dharma was established on Earth because of Rama's victory over Ravana. The festival commemorates the victory of Good over Evil.

FESTIVAL CELEBRATED DIFFERENTLY IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF INDIA:

1. NORTHERN INDIA: In most of northern and western India, Dasha-Hara ("ten days") is celebrated in honour of Rama. Thousands of drama-dance-music plays based on the Ramayan and Ramcharitmanas (Ramlila) are performed. The effigies are burnt on bonfires in the evening of Dussehra. In Varanasi, the entire story is freely acted out by performance-artists before the public every evening for a month. The performance arts tradition during the Dussehra festival was inscribed by UNESCO as one of the "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" in 2008. It is celebrated across northern India for Dussehra, but particularly in historically important Hindu cities of Ayodhya, Varanasi, Vrindavan, Almora, Satna and Madhubani.

WESTERN INDIA: In Gujarat, both the goddess Durga and lord Rama are revered for their victory over evil. A regional dance called Dandiya Raas, that deploys colourfully decorated sticks, and Garba, that is, dancing in traditional dress, is a part of the festivities through the night. In Goa, the festival is locally known as Dasro in Konkani, marks Goddess Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura. 

EASTERN INDIA: In West Bengal Vijayadashami is also known as Bijoya Dashomi. . It is marked by processions in which clay statues are taken to a river or ocean for a solemn goodbye to Durga. Many mark their faces with vermilion (sindoor) or wear red clothing. It is an emotional day for some devotees, especially the Bengalis, and even for many atheists as the congregation sings goodbye songs. When the procession reaches the water, the clay statues of Durga and her four children are immersed; the clay dissolves and they are believed to return to Mount Kailasha with Shiva, and to the cosmos in general. People distribute sweets and gifts, and visit friends and family members. Some communities such as those near Varanasi mark the eleventh day, called ekadashi, by visiting a Durga temple.