The Indian festive season is upon us! We cannot talk about Indian festivals without mentioning the Dussehra festival.
Dussehra falls on the tenth day of the nine-day Hindu festival of Shardiya Navratri. It embodies the victory of good over evil because it is believed that Lord Rama had killed King Ravana on this day. This festival is also known as Vijayadashami, and this day commemorates the triumph of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura.
Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami or Dasara, is a loved and widely celebrated Indian festival. It is observed on the 10th day or Dashami Tithi of the Shukla Paksha of the Ashwin month. This day usually falls in September or October, as per the English calendar.
Vijayadashami or Dussehra - 12th October 2024 (Saturday)
Vijay Time- From 02:03 PM to 02:49 PM
Dashami Tithi (Starts) - 10:58 AM, 12th October 2024 (Saturday)
Dashami Tithi (Ends) - 09:08 AM, 13th October 2024 (Sunday)
Bengali Vijayadashami- 13th October 2024 (Sunday)
Aparahna Puja Time- From 01:17 PM to 03:35 PM
Shravana Nakshatra (Starting Time)- 05:25 AM, 12th October 2024 (Saturday)
Shravana Nakshatra (Ending Time) - 04:27 AM, 13th October 2024 (Sunday)
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The celebration of the Dussehra festival has special significance in Hindu culture. The word "Dussehra" is made up of the Sanskrit terms "Dasha" (ten) and "Hara" (defeat). Hence, one thing you should know about Dussehra is that this festival honors the triumph of good over evil.
The tenth day, or Dussehra, is when Lord Ram killed the demon king Ravana, according to the great Hindu epic Ramayana. Dussehra is also celebrated as Vijayadashami in Eastern parts of India, where people celebrate Dussehra to commemorate the day Goddess Durga slew the buffalo demon Mahishasura. In a spiritual sense, Dussehra also represents a new beginning and the elimination of negativity and evil, such as biases, prejudices, and stereotypes that reside within us.
Dussehra is celebrated with incredible zeal throughout India and neighboring countries such as Nepal. Dussehra is known as Dashain in Nepal, and it is the country's longest Hindu festival.
Here’s the Dussehra 2024 Pooja Vidhi.
When it comes to Dussehra Pooja at home, always perform the Dussehra Puja during the Abhijit, Vijayi, or Aparahna Kaal periods.
Prepare for the Puja at an auspicious spot in the Northeast corner of your home. It would be great if your whole family could be involved in the Puja. However, you can also do the Puja alone.
Purify the place of worship with Gangajal (water from the Ganges).
On this day, make an Ashtadal Chakra (the ring of eight lotus petals) in the Northeast corner of the house with sandalwood paste.
Take the Sankalp that you are performing this Puja for yourself and your family.
Recite the "Aparajitaya Namah" Mantra and pray to Goddess Aparajita for the happiness of the family.
On her right, invoke Goddess Jaya by reciting the Mantra "Kriyashaktyai Namah".
You must invoke Goddess Vijaya with "Umayai Namah" on her very left.
After that, perform the Shodashopachara Puja of the three goddesses.
Also, worship Lord Rama and Goddess Durga.
Then, present Roli, Akshat, rice, flowers, etc., as a way of worship. After this, offer Bhog.
Perform the Aarti of the Goddesses and distribute the Prasad to everyone.
Give donations as much as possible and feed the people in need.
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The burning of the towering Ravana effigies, traditionally filled with fireworks, is the main attraction of Dussehra. Ravana's effigies are burned to symbolize the victory of everything good over evil. After Ravana is set on fire, Shami tree leaves are distributed among each other in many places, especially in Northern India. This tree is also mentioned in the Hindu epic Mahabharata when the Pandavas had hidden their weapons under this tree. When you perform the Puja Vidhi of the Shami tree, your life will be filled with success, prosperity, and victories over your adversaries. In Southern India, Shami Puja is also referred to as Jammi Puja or Banni Puja. Shami Puja worship is regarded as an essential ritual to be carried out on Dussehra.
As part of Vijayadashami, married women in West Bengal play with vermilion (Sindoor), popularly known as Sindoor Khela. Here, Durga Puja leads to Vijayadashami, also known as Bijoy Dashami, when clay statues of Goddess Durga are immersed in water bodies in order to bid her farewell. Prior to the immersion, Bengali women participate in Sindoor Khela, where they apply vermilion (Sindoor) to each other and wear red clothes.
The Dussehra festival is celebrated by country-wide processions carrying statues of Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kartikeya to nearby rivers or water bodies by immersing them.
Another Dussehra ritual is weapon worship. Many people worship weapons, pens, and other instruments associated with fighting injustice on this occasion.
Worshiping one's professional instruments is believed to be particularly fortunate during this period in North India. Drivers keep their buses and trucks clean and shiny. They apply Roli and draw the auspicious Swastika sign on them. The armed forces also practice this tradition.
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Every part of the country celebrates Dussehra with great zeal and in a unique fashion. Here’s how Dussehra is celebrated in some parts of India.
Dussehra in North India - Dussehra is celebrated in most North or Western Indian states in honor of Lord Rama. Dussehra is usually celebrated by burning the massive effigies of Ravana and his brothers Kumbhakarna and Meghnath. Ramleela, a theatrical presentation of Lord Rama's life narrative, is organized by devotees in the days leading to and on the day of Dussehra. On the day of Dussehra, a fair is organized and attended by the public.
Dussehra in Gujarat - During Navratri, the people of Gujarat gather and dance every night. During the Dussehra festival, several events are held, and men and women perform the famous Gujarati folk dance known as "Garba" to perform folk music. Men and women dress in their best traditional attire and dance until late at night. Garba usually begins late at night after worshiping Goddess Durga and lasts until dawn in many places.
Dussehra in Mysore - In Mysore, Dussehra, called Dasara, is well-known and is celebrated with grandeur. Mysore hosts a plethora of fairs and cultural events, much to the delight of thousands of visitors. The highlight of this ten-day festival is the spectacular parade of bedecked elephants and mounted guards escorting the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, which is set atop a golden altar throughout the city. Legend has it that Goddess Chamundeshwari (another name for Goddess Durga) had killed the demon King Mahishasura.
While numerous other stories and significance are associated with the Dussehra festival, and it is observed in diverse ways in different regions of India, its essence remains the same: the triumph of good over evil.
Astroyogi wishes you a Happy Dussehra 2024
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