Vijayadashami (IAST: Vijayadaśamī, pronounced [ʋɪʝəjəðəʃmɪ]]) also known as Dasahara, Dusshera, Dasara, Dussehra or Dashain is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year. It is observed on the tenth day in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin or Kartik, the sixth and seventh month of the Hindu Luni-Solar Calendar respectively, which typically falls in the Gregorian months of September and October
Vijayadashami
Vijayadasami reveres either Durga's or Rama's victory over evil depending on the region
Ravana is worshiped in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh. It is said that Mandsaur's real name was Daspur, and it was the maternal grandfather of Ravana's wife Mandodari. Hence the name of this city was Mandsaur. Since Mandsaur was Ravana's in-law, and the daughter here was married to Ravana, he is worshiped here instead of burning the effigy of Ravana due to the tradition of honoring son-in-law. There is a statue of Ravana in Rundi of Mandsaur, which is worshiped.Go to celebrations to wish Vijayadashami
Vijayadashami is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of South Asia.In the southern, eastern, northeastern, and some northern states of India, Vijayadashami marks the end of Durga Puja, remembering goddess Durga's victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura to restore and protect dharma.[3][8] In the northern-central and western states, the festival is synonymously called Dussehra (also spelled Dasara, Dashahara). In these regions, it marks the end of "Ramlila" and remembers God Rama's victory over the Ravan. On the very same occasion; Arjuna alone decimated 1 lakh+ soldiers & defeated all Kuru warriors including Bhishma, Drona, Ashwatthama, Karna, Kripa etc.- there by significantly quoting the natural example of victory of good (Dharma) over evil (Adharma). Alternatively it marks a reverence for one of the aspects of goddess Devi such as Durga or Saraswati.
Vijayadashami celebrations include processions to a river or ocean front that carry clay statues of Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya, accompanied by music and chants, after which the images are immersed into the water for dissolution and a goodbye. Elsewhere, on Dasara, the towering effigies of Ravan symbolizing the evil are burnt with fireworks marking evil's destruction. The festival also starts the preparation for one of the most important and widely celebrated Diwali, the festival of lights, which is celebrated twenty days after the Vijayadashami.
According to James Lochtefeld, the word Dussehra (Devanagari: दशहर) (Kannada: ದಸರಾ ಹಬ್ಬ) is a variant of Dashahara which is a compound Sanskrit word composed of "dasham"(दशम) and "ahar" (अहर), respectively meaning "10" and "day".[14][15][16] According to Monier-Williams, Dus (दुश) means "bad, evil, sinful," and Hara (हर) means "removing, destroying," connoting "removing the bad, destroying the evil, sinful."
In most of northern and western India, Dasha-Hara (literally, "ten
days") is celebrated in honour of Raam Thousands of drama-dance-music
plays based on the Ramayan and Ramcharitmanas (Ramlila)
are performed at outdoor fairs across the land and in temporarily built
staging grounds featuring effigies of the demons Ravan, Kumbhakarna and Meghanath. The effigies are burnt on bonfires in the evening of Vijayadashami-Dussehra.[5]
While Dussehra is observed on the same day across India, the
festivities leading to it vary. In many places, the "Rama Lila", or the
brief version of the story of Rama, Sita and Lakshaman, is enacted over
the 9 days before it, but in some cities such as Varanasi the entire story is freely acted out by performance-artists before the public every evening for a month.[16]
The performance arts tradition during the Dussehra festival was inscribed by UNESCO as one of the "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" in 2008.[24] The festivities, states UNESCO, include songs, narration, recital and dialogue based on the Hindu text Ramacharitmanas by Tulsidas. It is celebrated across northern India for dussehra, but particularly in historically important Hindu cities of Ayodhya, Varanasi, Vrindavan, Almora, Satna and Madhubani.[24] The festival and dramatic enactment of the virtues versus vices filled story is organized by communities in hundreds of small villages and towns, attracting a mix of audiences from different social, gender and economic backgrounds. In many parts of India, the audience and villagers join in and participate spontaneously, some helping the artists, others helping with stage setup, make-up, effigies and lights.[24] These arts come to a close on the night of Dussehra, when the victory of Raam is celebrated by burning the effigies of evil, Ravan and his colleagues.[13]
Vijayadasami is celebrated in a variety of ways in South India.[27][better source needed]
Celebrations range from worshipping Durga, lighting up temples and
major forts such as at Mysore, to displaying colorful figurines, known
as a golu.
The festival played a historical role in the 14th-century Vijayanagara Empire, where it was called Mahanavami. The Italian traveller Niccolò de' Conti described the festival's intensity and importance as a grandeur religious and martial event with royal support. The event revered Durga as the warrior goddess (some texts refer to her as Chamundeshwari). The celebrations hosted athletic competitions, singing and dancing, fireworks, a pageantry military parade and charitable giving to the public.[28][29]
The city of Mysore has traditionally been a major center of Dasara-Vijayadashami celebrations.[28]
Another significant and notable tradition of several South Indian regions has been the dedication of this festival to Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, learning, music and arts. She is worshipped, along with instruments of one's trade during this festival. In South India, people maintain, clean and worship their instruments, tools of work and implements of their livelihood during this festival, remembering Goddess Saraswati and Durga.[13]
Kids aged 3–4, who are new to school, are admitted to school on Vijayadasami Day.[30]
In Maharashtra, the deities installed on the first day of Navratri are immersed in water. Observers visit each other and exchange sweets.[32]
The festival has been historically important in Maharashtra. Shivaji,
who challenged the Mughal Empire in the 17th-century and created a
Hindu kingdom in western and central India, would deploy his soldiers to
assist farmers in cropping lands and providing adequate irrigation to
guarantee food supplies. Post monsoons, on Vijayadashami, these soldiers
would leave their villages and reassemble to serve in the military,
re-arm and obtain their deployment orders, then proceed to the frontiers
for active duty.[33][34]
In Mewar region of Rajasthan and Gujarat both Durga and Rama have been celebrated on Vijayadashami, and it has been a major festival for Rajput warriors.[28]
The Gondi people instead celebrate Ravan by carrying an image of him riding an elephant and singing praises to him, as they consider Ravan as their ancestor and one of their gods.[35][36]
In Nepal, Vijayadashami follows the festival of Dashain.
Youngsters visit the elders in their family, distant ones come to their
native homes, and students visit their school teachers. The elders and
teachers welcome the youngsters, mark their foreheads with tika and bless them. The family reveres the Hindu goddess of wealth Lakshmi, hoping for virtuous success and prosperity in the year ahead
Vijayadashami
Vijayadasami reveres either Durga's or Rama's victory over evil depending on the regionRavana is worshiped in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh. It is said that Mandsaur's real name was Daspur, and it was the maternal grandfather of Ravana's wife Mandodari. Hence the name of this city was Mandsaur. Since Mandsaur was Ravana's in-law, and the daughter here was married to Ravana, he is worshiped here instead of burning the effigy of Ravana due to the tradition of honoring son-in-law. There is a statue of Ravana in Rundi of Mandsaur, which is worshiped.Go to celebrations to wish Vijayadashami
Vijayadashami is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of South Asia.In the southern, eastern, northeastern, and some northern states of India, Vijayadashami marks the end of Durga Puja, remembering goddess Durga's victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura to restore and protect dharma.[3][8] In the northern-central and western states, the festival is synonymously called Dussehra (also spelled Dasara, Dashahara). In these regions, it marks the end of "Ramlila" and remembers God Rama's victory over the Ravan. On the very same occasion; Arjuna alone decimated 1 lakh+ soldiers & defeated all Kuru warriors including Bhishma, Drona, Ashwatthama, Karna, Kripa etc.- there by significantly quoting the natural example of victory of good (Dharma) over evil (Adharma). Alternatively it marks a reverence for one of the aspects of goddess Devi such as Durga or Saraswati.
Vijayadashami celebrations include processions to a river or ocean front that carry clay statues of Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya, accompanied by music and chants, after which the images are immersed into the water for dissolution and a goodbye. Elsewhere, on Dasara, the towering effigies of Ravan symbolizing the evil are burnt with fireworks marking evil's destruction. The festival also starts the preparation for one of the most important and widely celebrated Diwali, the festival of lights, which is celebrated twenty days after the Vijayadashami.
Etymology
Vijayadashami (Devanagari: विजयदशमि ) (Kannada: ವಿಜಯದಶಮಿ) (Tamil: விஜயதசமி) (Telugu: విజయదశమి) is a composite of two words "Vijaya" (विजय) and "Dashami" (दशमी), which respectively mean "victor and "tenth," connoting the festival on the tenth day celebrating the victory of good over evil. The same Hindu festival-related term, however, takes different forms in different regions of India and Nepal, as well as among Hindu minorities found elsewhere.[13]According to James Lochtefeld, the word Dussehra (Devanagari: दशहर) (Kannada: ದಸರಾ ಹಬ್ಬ) is a variant of Dashahara which is a compound Sanskrit word composed of "dasham"(दशम) and "ahar" (अहर), respectively meaning "10" and "day".[14][15][16] According to Monier-Williams, Dus (दुश) means "bad, evil, sinful," and Hara (हर) means "removing, destroying," connoting "removing the bad, destroying the evil, sinful."
Ramayana
Ravana kidnapped Sita. Rama requested Ravana to release her, but Ravana refused; the situation escalated and led to war. Having performing severe penance for ten thousand years, Ravana had received a boon from the Lord Brahma the Creator: Ravana could not be killed by gods, demons, or spirits. He is portrayed as a powerful demon king who disturbs the penances of rishis. Lord Vishnu incarnated as the human Rama to defeat and kill him, remaining within the stipulations of Lord Brahma's boon. A deadly and fierce battle took place between Rama and Ravana wherein Rama killed Ravana and ended his evil rule. Ravana had ten heads. The killing of the ten headed one is called Dusshera. Dharma was re-established on Earth because of Rama's victory over Ravana. Thus do we celebrate this festival, remembering the victory of Good over Evil.Mahabharata
In the Mahabharata,the Pandavas are known to have spent their thirteenth year of exile in disguise in the kingdom of Virata. Before going to Virata, they are known to have hung their celestial weapons in a Shami tree for safekeeping for a year.] Bhima kills Kichak. Hearing about the death of Kichak, Duryodhana surmises that the Pandavas were hiding in Matsya. A host of Kaurava warriors attacks Virata, presumably to steal their cattle, but in reality, desiring to pierce the Pandavas' veil of anonymity. Full of bravado, Virata's son Uttara attempts to take on the army by himself while the rest of the Matsya army has been lured away to fight Susharma and the Trigartas. As suggested by Draupadi, Uttar takes Brihannala with him, as his charioteer. When he sees the Kaurava army, Uttara loses his nerve and attempts to flee. Then Arjuna reveals his identity and those of his brothers'. Arjuna takes Uttar to the tree where the Pandavas hid their weapons. Arjun picks up his Gandiva after worshipping the tree, as the Shami tree safeguarded the Pandavas’ weapons for that complete year. Arjuna reties the thread of Gandiva, simply drags and releases it - which produces a terrible twang. At the same point of time, Kaurava warriors were eagerly waiting to spot Pandavas. Dispute talks took place between Karna and Drona. Karn told Duryodhan that he would easily defeat Arjuna and doesn’t feel threatened by Drona’s words since Drona was intentionally praising Arjuna, as Arjuna was a favorite student of Drona. Ashwathama supports his father by praising Arjuna. Then Arjuna arrives on the battlefield. . Eager to defend the land that had given him refuge, Arjuna engaged the legion of Kaurava warriors. The battle starts between Arjuna and the entire Kuru Army. All the warriors including Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Kripa and Ashwathama together attacked Arjuna to kill him, but Arjuna defeated all of them multiple times.[22]. During the battle, Arjuna also killed Sangramjita, the foster brother of Karna, and instead of taking revenge for his brother, Karna fled in order to save his life from Arjuna. Karna tried to fly away from Arjuna but he could not since Arjuna invoked Sammohanaastra which made the entire army fall asleep.[23]. This is the war in which Arjuna proved that he was the best archer in the world at his time. In this way Arjuna alone defeated the entire Kuru army consisting of ten thousands of soldiers, Maharathis : Bhishma, Drona, Karna ; Atirathis : Kripa, Ashwatthama. One of the names of Arjuna is Vijaya - ever victorious. This incident took place on the same day in which Lord Ram killed Ravana. As it was Arjuna’s day, the day also became popular as "Vijaya Dashami"Regional variations
Northern India
Dasara is observed with the burning of Ravana effigies.
The performance arts tradition during the Dussehra festival was inscribed by UNESCO as one of the "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" in 2008.[24] The festivities, states UNESCO, include songs, narration, recital and dialogue based on the Hindu text Ramacharitmanas by Tulsidas. It is celebrated across northern India for dussehra, but particularly in historically important Hindu cities of Ayodhya, Varanasi, Vrindavan, Almora, Satna and Madhubani.[24] The festival and dramatic enactment of the virtues versus vices filled story is organized by communities in hundreds of small villages and towns, attracting a mix of audiences from different social, gender and economic backgrounds. In many parts of India, the audience and villagers join in and participate spontaneously, some helping the artists, others helping with stage setup, make-up, effigies and lights.[24] These arts come to a close on the night of Dussehra, when the victory of Raam is celebrated by burning the effigies of evil, Ravan and his colleagues.[13]
Himachal Pradesh
Kullu Dussehra is celebrated in the Kullu valley of Himachal Pradesh and is regionally notable for its large fair and parade witnessed by estimated half a million people. The festival is a symbol of victory of good over evil by Raghu Nath, and is celebrated like elsewhere in the Indian subcontinent with a procession.[25] The special feature of the Kullu Dasara procession is the arrival of floats containing deities from different parts of the nearby regions and their journey to Kullu.[26]Southern India
The festival played a historical role in the 14th-century Vijayanagara Empire, where it was called Mahanavami. The Italian traveller Niccolò de' Conti described the festival's intensity and importance as a grandeur religious and martial event with royal support. The event revered Durga as the warrior goddess (some texts refer to her as Chamundeshwari). The celebrations hosted athletic competitions, singing and dancing, fireworks, a pageantry military parade and charitable giving to the public.[28][29]
The city of Mysore has traditionally been a major center of Dasara-Vijayadashami celebrations.[28]
Another significant and notable tradition of several South Indian regions has been the dedication of this festival to Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, learning, music and arts. She is worshipped, along with instruments of one's trade during this festival. In South India, people maintain, clean and worship their instruments, tools of work and implements of their livelihood during this festival, remembering Goddess Saraswati and Durga.[13]
Kids aged 3–4, who are new to school, are admitted to school on Vijayadasami Day.[30]
Western India
In Gujarat, both goddess Durga and god Rama are revered for their victory over evil. Fasting and prayers at temples are common. A regional dance called Dandiya Raas, that deploys colorfully decorated sticks, and Garba that is dancing in traditional dress is a part of the festivities through the night.[31]In Maharashtra, the deities installed on the first day of Navratri are immersed in water. Observers visit each other and exchange sweets.[32]
_Vijaya_Dashami_The_art_work_India_October_2013.jpg)
Colorful floor patterns to mark Vijayadashami.
In Mewar region of Rajasthan and Gujarat both Durga and Rama have been celebrated on Vijayadashami, and it has been a major festival for Rajput warriors.[28]
The Gondi people instead celebrate Ravan by carrying an image of him riding an elephant and singing praises to him, as they consider Ravan as their ancestor and one of their gods.[35][36]
Durga image is immersed into river on Vijayadashami in eastern regions of the Indian subcontinent.
Eastern India
Vijaya Dasami is observed as Bijoya Dashomi, immediately after the day of Dashomi or the tenth day of Nabaratri, marked by a great procession where the clay statues are ceremoniously walked to a river or ocean coast for a solemn goodbye to Durga. Many mark their faces with vermilion (sindoor) or wear some red clothing. It is an emotional day for some devotees, even for many atheist Bengalis as the congregation sings emotional goodbye songs.[37][38] When the procession reaches the water, Durga is immersed, the clay dissolves, and she is believed to return to Mount Kailasha with Shiva and to the cosmos in general. People distribute sweets and gifts, visit their friends and family members.[39] Some communities such as those near Varanasi mark the eleventh day, called ekadashi, by visiting a Durga temple.[40]Nepal
Youngsters greet elders and seek blessings on Dashain (Dashami) among the Hindu community in Nepal and Himalayan regions.
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