Dusshera Festival: Date, history, and How to Celebrate

Dusshera is a Hindu festival celebrated by the people of India. Check the date of Dusshera Festival 2024 and all the other details you need to know.

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Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is a Hindu festival that commemorates the triumph of good over evil. This festival celebrates the end of the Navratri season. Dussehra 2024 festival will be observed on Saturday, 12 October.

About Dusshera Festival

Dusshera is celebrated on the tenth day of Ashvin, the seventh month of the Hindu Luni-Solar Calendar, which occurs between September and October in the Gregorian calendar.

In different parts of the India, Vijayadashami or Dusshera is commemorated and celebrated for different reasons. Vijayadashami is the end of Durga Puja in India’s southern, eastern, northeastern, and some northern states. The event is known as Dussehra in the northern, central, and western states, and it commemorates lord Rama’s victory over Ravan at the end of Ramlila.

Date of Dusshera 2024

This year Dusshera falls on Saturday, 12 October 2024.

History of Dusshera

1st Legend:

In the famous Hindu epic Ramayana, Dussehra commemorates Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana. Ravana kidnaps Rama’s wife Sita in the Ramayana to take revenge on Rama and Lakshmana for cutting off Surpanakha’s nose. In the end, Rama triumphs over Ravana and saves Sita. The triumph is then commemorated by the burning of the effigies of Ravana. The tenth day, Dussehra, is the end of Navratri’s nine-day celebrations.

2nd Legend:

According to another legend, Goddess Durga battled and killed Mahishasura on this day. The day is known as Vijayadashmi. The nine days leading up to Vijayadashami are dedicated to a different powerful manifestation of Goddess Durga.

What people do on Dusshera Festival

People in the region’s northern and western India fast while worshipping the Goddess in her nine incarnations. The festival is celebrated with great pomp and devotion throughout India’s eastern and north-eastern regions. Goddess Durga is worshipped for five days before being submerged in water bodies on the tenth day, signifying the end of celebrations.

Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is one of India’s most widely observed festivals. During the nine days of Navratri, people pray to the Goddess while playing Dandiya and Garba. Both Dussehra and Vijayadashami commemorate the triumph of good over evil and emphasise the importance of a man’s ability to overcome fear, greed, and bad thinking in favour of positive thoughts and actions.

Dussehra and Vijayadashami both celebrate the victory of good over evil and signify a man’s need to overcome fear, greed, and negative thinking and move towards positive thoughts and deeds.

Dusshera Celebrations in India

Let us take a look at how Dusshera is celebrated in different parts of India and see how diverse it is.

1. Dusshera Celebration in Northern India

Dusshera is celebrated in most of northern and western India in remembrance of Rama. At outdoor festivities, effigies of the demons Ravan, Kumbhakarna, and Meghanada are burned, and thousands of drama-dance-music acts based on the Ramayan (Ramlila) are performed.The “Rama Lila,” is a narrative version of Rama, Sita, and Lakshaman’s story, enacted in many places over the nine days.

2. Dusshera Celebration in Western India

Both the goddess Durga and Lord Rama are honored in Gujarat for their triumph against evil. Fasting and temple prayers are popular. The festivities continue late into the night with a regional dance called Dandiya Raas, which uses colourfully adorned poles, and Garba, which is traditional dress dancing.

This event, called Dasro in Konkani in Goa, commemorating Goddess Durga’s victory over the monster Mahishasura.

3. Dusshera Celebration in Eastern India

In West Bengal, Vijayadashami is celebrated as Bijoya Dashomi. It is commemorated by processions in which clay figurines of Durga are carried to a river to bid farewell. Women wear red attire and apply vermilion to their faces. People exchange sweets and gifts and pay visits to friends and family.

4. Dusshera Celebration in Southern India

Worshipping Durga, lighting up temples, and exhibiting colourful figurines known as golus are all part of the Dusshera celebrations. Athletic events, singing and dancing, fireworks, a spectacular military march, and public charitable donations all are part of the festivities.

How Kids Can celebrate Dusshera at home

  • Dress up for the occasion
  • Organize video call with closed ones
  • Prepare delicacies or order in
  • Spend quality time with family

Podcast on Dusshera Festival

FAQ'S on Dusshera Festival

Dusshera festival is celebrated by special prayer meetings and food offerings to the god at home or temple. Some communities, especially in Northern India, also jointly celebrate Dussehra in the evening by lighting effigies of Ravan, his brother Kumbhkarna and his son Meghnath and distributing sweets to celebrate the victory of good over evil.

Dusshera festival commemorates the victory of Lord Rama over the evil king Ravan.

What is the story behind Dussehra? Hindu mythology  describes the struggle between good and evil. Listen to the full audio story here.

Dusshera falls on Saturday, 12 October 2024.

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