What does Dussehra celebrate?
When is Dussehra observed in India?
What is the difference between Diwali and Dussehra?
How is Dussehra celebrated in northern and western India?
How is Dussehra celebrated in southern India?
Dussehra, in Hinduism, a festival that marks the end of Sharad Navratri in India. The term sharad means “autumn” in Sanskrit and navratri means “nine nights.” The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, commemorated by the triumph of the Hindu deity Rama over the 10-headed demon (rakshasa) king Ravana, who abducts Rama’s wife, Sita, as recounted in the Sanskrit epic Ramayana. The festival’s name is derived from the Sanskrit words dasha (“ten”) and hara (“defeat”). Dussehra is widely celebrated by Hindus across South Asia, particularly in India, and by the global Hindu diaspora.
Navratri is a nine-day festival held in honor of the divine feminine. It is dedicated to the worship of the goddess Durga and her nine forms, each symbolizing different qualities such as strength, wisdom, courage, devotion, and protection.
Dussehra is observed in various parts of India on the 10th day of the Hindu calendar month of Ashvina (September–October), following the nine nights of Sharad Navratri. The festival is celebrated with the appearance of the full moon, an event which happens during the “bright fortnight” or shukla paksha. Additionally, as Navratri depends on the lunar calendar, in some years it may be celebrated for eight days, with Dussehra falling on the ninth day. This is because the lunar calendar does not align perfectly with the solar Gregorian calendar, and sometimes tithis (lunar days) overlap or are skipped; when this happens, the total count of days can be reduced.
Legend
Rama, also called Ramachandra, is considered to be the seventh incarnation (avatar) of the Hindu god Vishnu.
The Sanskrit epic Ramayana describes how Rama, assisted by his brother Lakshmana, wages a war on Ravana for abducting Sita. In his quest to rescue Sita, he receives assistance from Sugriva, the king of monkeys (vanars); Hanuman, the commander of the army of monkeys; and Vibhishana, Ravana’s brother. After a fierce battle lasting many days, Rama slays Ravana with the Brahmastra (Sanskrit: “Brahma’s weapon”). A divine weapon of the Hindu god Brahma, Brahmastra has the power to destroy everything in its path.
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Dussehra and Vijayadashami
Dussehra coincides with Vijayadashami, the 10th day of the Durga Puja festival, which is celebrated primarily in eastern India. Durga Puja celebrates the descent of the goddess Durga to earth, her victory over the demon king Mahishasura (mahisa meaning “buffalo,” and asura meaning, “demon”), and her subsequent departure to Mount Kailash. The terms Dussehra and Vijayadashami are often used interchangeably, perhaps because Vijayadashami also marks the celebration of the triumph of good over evil.
Regional celebrations
Although rooted in the Ramayana, Dussehra takes on varied cultural expressions across India, shaped by regional rituals and performances.
In northern and western India the festival is marked by exuberant performances of Ramlila, a dramatic folk reenactment of the Ramayana. Ramlila performances mostly conclude with the scene of Ravana’s defeat by Rama. At this moment Ravana dahan (dahan meaning “to burn”) is set into action. Effigies of Ravana—often along with those of Ravana’s son Meghanada and Ravana’s brother Kumbhakarna—are stuffed with firecrackers and set ablaze at dusk in open fields. This act is symbolic of Rama’s victory over evil.
In Himachal Pradesh, the Kullu valley provides the setting for the Kullu Dussehra festival. Instead of burning effigies of Ravana, locally worshipped deities are carried in procession to the town. Lord Raghunath, a regional form of Rama, is honored as the presiding deity, and dozens of temple gods are also revered during the week-long fair. On the final day a bonfire of dry bushes is lit to represent the burning of Lanka, an episode in the Ramayana wherein Hanuman sets fire to the island with his tail.
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In southern India Navratri and Dussehra are marked by the celebration of Navratri (or Bommai) Golu and Ayudha Puja. Navratri Golu centers on the creative arrangement of dolls, figurines, and idols on stepped platforms, usually in odd numbers of tiers. These displays depict deities and scenes from the ancient epic Ramayana. On the ninth day of Navratri, Ayudha Puja is observed in many southern Indian states. During the festival the goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Parvati are worshipped. The festival focuses on reverence for tools, instruments, and objects of knowledge.
For many Dussehra marks the beginning of preparation for Diwali, which occurs 20 days after Dussehra. Diwali symbolizes the royal homecoming of Rama along with Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman to the city of Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.
