Dussehra - Celebrating Victory of Good over Evil

Popularly known as Navaratri (India) or Dashain (Nepal), Dussehra is one of the major celebrations of Hindus all over the world. It is one of the many Hindu festivals symbolizing the victory of good over evil. The festival is celebrated on the tenth day of the Ashwin month of Hindu calendar corresponding to September/October of Gregorian calendar.



The first nine day of the festival is celebrated as Navaratri in which devotees worship each of the nine forms of Goddess Durga. And, at the end of the ninth day the tenth day is celebrated as Vijaya Dashami meaning victory on the tenth day referring to the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon buffalo Mahisasura on the tenth day. In many parts of India, Nepal and Bangladesh it also marks the harvest season and so the worshipping to Mother Goddess is performed to create fertility and vigor in the soil.  

The people celebrating Dussehra greet the festival by decorating their house in a colourful and vibrant way. Kids relish in shopping new clothes while the elders engage themselves in ornamenting their house by cleaning and decorating it with garlands.

History: There are many legend behind the celebration of Dussehra, of them the famed are the two one of Goddess Durga and the other of Lord Rama. Goddess Durga who is a divine form of energy booned by all the main three gods of Hindus including Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma killed the demon king Mahisasura when he created a havoc on the earth and won a war against the devas (gods). As per the legend, when strength of lighting from the mouth of three gods emerged, goddess was born. She rode on a lion and fought the demon but was unable to kill her until the end of nine day and nine nights, at the commencement of tenth day she killed her thus ending the havoc on earth.

Another legend says that, Rama the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu after gaining secret powers from Goddess Durga in Treta Yuga killed Ravana (king of Lanka) who kidnapped Sita. As per both the legends, it is believed that the celebration of this particular festival is observed as the victory of good over evil. 

Major Attractions of Dussehra:

• Ram Leela is major enactment in which the story of Lord Rama is told until the ninth day and in the tenth day the effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna and his son Meghnada are set to burn. The person who plays the role of Lord Rama in the play shoots the burning arrow and set the effigies to burn.
• While burning the effigies, the people in and around are asked to burn the devil inside them.
• People pray to Goddess Durga to wash away all their impurities.
• Pandals with idols of Goddess Durga killing Mahisasura.
• Colourful streets and houses.
• Delicacies are prepared.

Indian City with Huge Celebration:

Kolkata: It stands atop all the Indian cities in the colourful celebration of Dussehra; one can see the most frantic celebration. Over crowded events, domes, minarets, huge pandals and great enthusiasm make Kolkata vibrant during Dussehra. The 4 daylong event of Kolkata is the most happening with each and every part of the city turning into colourful rainbow.  

Apart from this, Ahmedabad, Mysore and Karnataka are other major place for celebration of this glowing festival. 

Navratri Festival

Navaratri festival with ‘nav’ meaning nine and ‘ratri’ meaning nights, is one of the major festival of Hindu community residing all across the globe, the spirit of this festivity lies on the nine aspects of Goddess Durga which is celebrated on each of the nine days. In the autumn season with the pleasant and enjoyable air, before the onset of the festival house are cleaned and ornamented with various decorative items as it is believed that Goddess comes to every home and resides for nine days before advancing to her own abode. In India, it depicts the rich culture and traditions of Incredible India. 


History: There are many legends behind the celebration of this festival. One such is that, Mahisasura (the demon buffalo) got the power of immortality by worshiping Lord Shiva and that nobody could kill him. He started to kill lots of people on earth, so three gods namely Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma created Shakti with lots of divine feminine powers and potency to kill the demon. It is believed that the fierce battle between Goddess and the demon last for nine days and on the tenth day she beheaded him. So, to honor her victory over the demon i.e. good over evil, this festivity is celebrated.


Another legend says that, Lord Rama worshiped Goddess to gain all her powers to be able to fight with the mighty Ravana. He fought with him and killed the ten head Ravana on the tenth day. To commemorate his victory over Ravana, Vijaya Dashami/Dussehra is celebrated.  

According to another legend, this festival is celebrated for the nine days in which Sati (first wife of Lord Shiva) stayed at her parents’ home.

Key Attractions:

• Huge statues of Goddess divine form kept in various places to worship and offer prayer.
• Drama, dance and cultural performances conducted throughout the country.
• Garbha and Dandiya rasa in Gujarat.
• The huge procession for taking the idols to immerse in holy waters.
• Chariots and parades for the commencement of festival in some places.
• Jagrans to sing devotional songs (bhajan) in Punjab.
• Decoration of houses.



This festival has many names including Vijaya Dashami, Dussehra, and Dashain etc. and is celebrated mainly in the parts of South East Asia with various people from countries like India, Nepal, etc. celebrating this festival in the grandest way possible. It is celebrated twice in a year with one celebrated in March/April known as ‘Chaitra Navaratri’ and second celebrated in September/October called as ‘Sharad Navaratri’. Most of the devotees of Goddess Durga fast for nine days and some fast only for two days eating fruits, milk, coffee/tea, boiled potatoes etc.

The festival commence with prayers that are offered to the goddess along with a plate of five fruits and an lamp (Diya) which needs to be lighted day and night and should not be off so, it should be taken care. Offering of prayers should be done very morning and evening after a bath. The mother goddess is worshipped in all her forms which unite of all goddess like Saraswati, Lakshmi and Durga.
Along with ornamentation of houses, various mouth watering delicacies are prepared like Aloo Tikki, Makhane ki Sabji, Sabudana Kheer, Kadhi, Kuttu ata roti with Kaddu sabzi or aloo sabzi etc.