Dasara, derived from the Sanskrit Dasha-hara meaning "remover of bad fate", is among

the most important festivals celebrated in India. Regional spellings include Dashera,
Dussera and Dussehra.

Dussehra - Victory of Good over Evil

Come September and an intangible bubbling excitement begins to charge the Indian air.
Folks go about their daily chores as usual. The first big festival of the season celebrated
by all Hindus of India on the tenth day after Navratri (September or October) is
Dussehra / Vijay dashmi . Dussehra is celebrated as the day of Rama's victory over king
Ravana, the 10-headed demon king of Lanka who had abducted Rama’s wife, Sita.

The Dussehra festival celebration is unique in its perspective and significance. Is the
celebration of the Victory of Good over Evil.

On the day of Dussehra / Vijay dashmi, Ram, killed the great demon Ravan, who had
abducted Ram's wife Sita to his kingdom of Lanka . Rama, who was a devout believer of
Durga, the Goddess of War, prayed to her for the first nine days of battle and killed the
evil Ravana on the 10th day along, with his brother Lakshman follower Hanuman, and an
army of monkeys fought a great battle to rescue his lovely wife Sita. He shot Ravana
with a bow that pierced his navel. Out flowed the nectar of immortality that was stored in
a pot in his navel, thus destroying his invincibility. Sita had been returned to her husband
Ram and they now make their way to Ayodhya in triumph and glory. Thus, it is on the
Diwali day that Lord Ram, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the Treta Yug, returned to
his capital Ayodhya after the exile of fourteen Years.

Consequently, to commemorate the return of Ram, Sita and Lakshman to

Ayodhya, people celebrate Diwali with the bursting of crackers and by
lighting up their houses with earthen diyas. This grand style of celebration
have continued, year after year. To this day, the whole of Ramayana is
enacted in dramas staged in huge pandals and maidans, in cities, towns and
villages, on the occasion of Dussehra and Diwali.

Rama also slew Ravana’s brother Kumbhkarna (more famous for maintaining a
lifestyle worthy of a record in the Guinness Book – he hibernated for six months at a
stretch each year!). Lakshmana killed Ravana’s son, Meghnath. And Dussehra is the
festival that commemorates this triumph of Good over Evil. To this day Rama Lila (the
enactment of the Ramayana, or literally the saga of Rama) is staged in towns and villages
across the length and breadth of the country.

Another legend that is linked to Dussehra is that of the Goddess Durga slaying the
buffalo-demon, Mahishasura. According to popular mythology, the gods were
compelled to grant Mahishasura indomitable powers for his unparalleled meditation. As
expected, the omnipotent buffalo-demon Mahishasura raised hell at the gates of heaven,
astounding the gods with his mammoth dominion. The infuriated gods then created
Durga. It is believed that Durga was actualised by the combined effort of all deities.
Durga possesses a weapon of each god and is said to be more powerful than all of them
put together.

In ancient times kings used the feast of Dussehra to cross the frontier and fight against
their neighbouring kingdoms. This border crossing is known as "seema ollanghan".
Dussehra marked the beginning of the war season. This was also the day to worship the
weapons. According to legend, Pandav went to dwell in the forest. On the way he hid his
weapons in the hole of a "shami" tree. After one year he returned from the forest and on
Dussehra day he took again his weapons and worshipped the shami tree and the weapons.
Hence the custom of worshipping weapons on this feast started.

The highlight of Dussehra is Ram Lila. It is enacted for 10 days to mark the 10-day
battle fought between Rama and Ravana. Ram Lila is generally held in large open
grounds that come alive with brightly-lit stalls, rickety giant wheels that might fall apart
any minute but never do, merry-go-rounds, brightly-painted manually run mini giant
wheels with bucket seats for children. All this is very reminiscent of a country fair.

Ram Lila is generally held in the evenings, and year after year, people flock in huge
numbers to watch the saga unfold, yet once again. In ancient times when it was
considered demeaning for women to go up on stage, men performed the female roles.
This still happens in most parts of India. Needless to say, the most effeminate and
‘beautiful’ boy is handpicked to enact the role of Sita.

After the Ram Lila and the burning of the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and
Meghnath (right down to their curly moustaches), the stars of the night – Rama, Sita and
Lakshmana are taken around in a huge chariot. Crowds of people shouting Jai Shri Ram
(Victory to Rama) join the procession.

Dussehra marks the beginning of the pleasant winter season after the searing heat of
summer. Dussehra is celebrated with pomp and pageantry reminiscent of medieval times.
Almost every part of the country has its own specific way of celebrating the victory of
good over evil.