Dusshera
The Victory of Good Over Evil

“Dusshera” is a major Hindu festival that is celebrated annually, all over the country. Also known as “VijayaDashmi”, this festival marks the end of the 10 day long festival of “Sharad Navratri“. Dusshera is celebrated on the tenth day of Lunar month of Ashwin according to the panchang. This year Dusshera will be observed on 5th October 2022.

Why is Dusshera Celebrated?

The festival of Dusshera is celebrated to mark the victory of Lord Rama over the Demon King Ravana. It also signifies the triumph of good over evil. On Dusshera, huge effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghnad are burnt with fireworks which symbolize the quelling of darkness by light. Dusshera is formed from 2 sanskrit words “Dus” and “Ahara” and literally translates to “The Tenth Day”.

The King Ravana was also known as “Dashanand” which means “the one with the ten heads”. This festival also represents the defeat of Dashanand i.e. defeat of ten heads of evil.

Historical Significance of Dusshera

The festival of Vijayadashmi finds its origin in 2 different historical stories. Both of these stories are from a different time period but they both signify same things i.e. “The Victory of Good Over Evil”.

Story of Lord Rama and Ravana

Ravana was the demon king of Lanka (currently known to the world as Sri Lanka). He desired Devi Sita wife of Lord Rama (7th avatar of Lord Vishnu). So, Ravana kidnapped Devi Sita and took her to his kingdom of Lanka where she was held captive.

Later, Lord Rama travelled to Lanka with an army of monkeys. With the support of his brother Lakshman and Lord Hanuman, he defeated Ravana’s Armies and eventually killed him. The war went on for 10 days and on tenth day Ravana was killed and thus Dusshera is celebrated.

This defeat of Ravana and his armies symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Dusshera is, therefore celebrated as the reminder that no matter how strong the evil is always vanquished and only the good prevails in the end.

Story of Aadishakti and Mahishasur

According to this story, there was a gruesome battle between Aadishakti, Devi Parvati and Demon King Mahishasur, long before the time of Ravana.

The festival of Navratri is celebrated because of this battle. Each day of Navratri honor one of the forms Aadishakti, each of these forms represents a different aspect of the divine feminine. The battle ended on the tenth day with the death of Mahishasur which is known as Vijayadashmi.

Despite the different stories, this day represents the victory of good over evil and is therefore celebrated every year.

How is Dusshera Celebrated?

In the Northern and Western part of India, plays based on Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas. These plays are known as Ramlila and are performed at outdoor fares by theatre troupes. In various parts of northern India, huge effigies of Ravana, his son Medhnadha and brother Kumbhkarna are set on fire in the open fields. This ritual of burning these effigies is known as Ravan Dahan.

Dusshera is also considered an auspicious day in the Hindu Culture. It is the when the evil is destroyed and good prevails. Therefore, it is considered as good day for starting a new business or making new investments.

On this day, students usually keep their books, shopkeepers clean weighing machines and keep accounts books and workers clean their tools. All of which are placed at the place of worship for the purpose of puja which the intent of purification.

Dusshera is also celebrated as Vijayadashmi. It is primarily celebrated in the eastern and northeastern part of the country and is celebrated quite differently. Durga Puja is organized to celebrate this festival which continues for five days. On the day of Dashmi, the idol are then immersed in the water bodies marking the end of the festivities which is quite similar to the rituals of the Ganesh Chaturthi.

Conclusion

Both the festivals represents the victory of good over evil and signify the man’s need to overcome fear, greed and negative thinking and transition towards positive thoughts and deeds.

Dusshera also paves the way for the next big festival of Diwali (the festival of lights) which is celebrated across the country. Diwali is celebrated 20 days after Dusshera and celebrates the arrival of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshman to Ayodhya after killing the Demon King Ravana.

Dusshera The Victory of Good Over Evil