All About Dusshera Festival
Dussehra or Vijayadashami is celebrated after the nine-day-long festival of Navratri. In 2023, Dussehra will be Spot on 24 October Tuesday. This day also marks the beginning of preparations for Diwali in 2023 which will be celebrated after 20 days of Dussehra.
Dussehra is a day for Hindus to celebrate their faith and renew their commitment to live a life of Morality. It is also a time for families to come together and celebrate. In many parts of India, Dussehra is a major festival and there are large public celebrations with the sculpture of Ravana burned, fireworks and performances.
What is the Meaning of the Word Dussehra?
The word Dussehra comes from the Sanskrit language like Dasha and Hara. Dasha means ten and hara means defeat. The festival symbolizes the victory of Lord Rama over the evil Ravana.
Dussehra Festival 2023 Tithi, Muhurat & Puja Timings
The Dussehra or Vijaydashami will be celebrated on 24 October 2023, Tuesday
| Date & Day | Events | Time Start | Time End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 October 2023, Monday | Dashami Tithi Begins | 5:44 PM | |
| 24 October 2023, Tuesday | Dashami Tithi Ends | 12:00 PM | |
| 24 October 2023, Tuesday | Vijay Muhurata | 2:18 PM | 3:05 PM |
| 24 October 2023, Tuesday | Aparahna Puja Time | 1:32 PM | 3:51 PM |
Why Do We Celebrate Dussehra?
Dussehra is one of the major Hindu festivals that marks the end of Navratri. This festival is celebrated as the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana and also celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil spirit Mahishasura. In many places, the statue of Ravana is burned on this day to mark the destruction of evil with fireworks.
Dussehra or Vijayadashami is an important Hindu festival which is the sign of victory of good over evil. This annual festival is celebrated by Hindus across the world on the tenth day of the Navratris, which falls in the month of Ashwin or Kartik months as per the Hindu calender.
How Do We Celebrate the Dusshera Festival?
People all over the country celebrate this festival with full excitement, enjoyment and enthusiasm. The different cultures present all over the country did not affect its celebrations. The spirit of people remains the same throughout the country.
Dussehra is celebrated on the occasion of the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. People used to represent Ram-Leela before Dussehra.
Eventually, on the day of Dussehra, people make the statues of Ravana and his brothers and burn them. This depicts the victory of good over evil, a big lesson to learn, as the primary outcome of this festival is every time truth wins over lies, good wins over evil and light wins over dark. Therefore, people’s beliefs on this festival may differ, but they celebrate it with the same spirit throughout the country.
Top 5 Tradition Rituals & Culture (More About Dussehra)
Dussehra is a famous festival celebrated mostly in the month of October. It is also known as Vijaydashmi or Dasara comes to an end with the ten-day Navratri. The festival is celebrated in different parts of the country and each place has its unique rituals. Dusshera kicks off the preparation for Diwali which is 20 days later. Here are the different Top 5 Traditions rituals and Cultures of Dussehra Celebrations in India.
Burning the Sculpture of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbhakarna
Melas are held at various Ram Lilla grounds across the country. The Statue of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghnath are set on fire demonstrating the victory of good over evil. Actors dress up as Lord Rama and Lakshmana to set Sculpture on fire. The celebrations include amazing fireworks and cultural performances.
Unique Gujarati Dance Garba
In Gujarat, many competitions are held where people dance to devotional songs. The celebrations continue till late night. The customs drawn by both men and women give a unique touch to the celebrations. Dussehra celebrations in Gujarat are unique with the vibrant Garba dance.
Worship of Goddess Saraswati
During the nine days of Navratri, nine forms of Goddess are worshipped. The worship of Saraswati on the tenth day of Navratri is a ritual in Maharastra. This day is also known to be auspicious to start anything new. The day is also known as Vijayadashami or Dasara celebrated all over India with great Joy and Happiness.
Durga Puja
Dura Puja is also a key ritual in the festival of Dussehra and Navratri. Particularly in Bengal where the festival is celebrated to mark the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasura. The different features of the goddess are worshipped for nine nights followed by celebrations on the tenth day.
Also Read: The Importance of Durga Puja
Worship Tools and Weapons
It is a custom to worship tools that better our lives on Dussehra. This ritual shows respect for tools. On this day Pandavas are believed to recover their weapons after completing Agyatvas. This well-known tradition is to worship tools that are a means of fighting evil. You can worship all articles used for the progress and prosperity of mankind.
The festival of Dussehra is related to a great legend associated with Lord Ram and Goddess Durga. Dussehra is celebrated with unique traditions in different parts of India. The main message is the victory of good over evil.
Things To Do in Dussehra with Family and Friends
Prayers
People worship and offer prayers to the Goddess Durga and other Gods. There is also a tradition of worshipping weapons, vehicles and work tools.
Fairs and Ravana Dahan
People enjoy the rides, shopping and street food at the Dussehra fairs with their families. People also watch Ravana Dahan or the burning of Ravan’s statue which symbolises the win of light over darkness.
Ram Lila Event
Ramlila is a 10-day event in which the life story of Lord Rama is represented through dramatic acts and dance performances. People with their families watch Ramleela in the evening time.
