India is a land of festivals. India is among countries with most number of festivals. From welcoming first harvest or rain to celebrating birthdays and marriage anniversaries of divine beings and saints, Indians never fails to rejoice. However, such festivals or occasions are same throughout the nation but are celebrated with different names.
Dussehra or Vijayadashami is a Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratra every year. The day of Dussehra is observed on the tenth day in the Hindu calendar in month of Ashwin or Kartik, the sixth and seventh month of the Hindu Luni-Solar Calendar respectively, which typically falls in the Gregorian months of September and October. People rejoice the day, greeting each other and exchanging good wishes.
Here are 9 things about Dussehra that one must know
1. Dussehra is celebrated in Ashwin every year, in the 10th month of Hindu calender. It mostly falls in either the month of October or November.
2. Dussehra is also known as Vijayadashami, or Dashami which means the victory on tenth day. It is celebrated on the account of triumph of Goddess Durga over demon Mahishasura.
3. Mahishasura was an evil demon, who used to torture and kill innocent people misusing his power. To put an end on the evil doings of Mahishasura, Tridev i.e Brahma Vishnu and Mahesh collectively created a power called Shakti. That Shakti was Durga Maa.
4. Some people claim that Durga Maa along with her children Laxmi, Ganesh, and Kartik came to her birthplace on the earth to stay for some time, and after defeating Mahishasura she returned back to her husband lord Shiva.
5. As Maa Durga came to her birthplace on the earth in regard to that, some Hindu community welcome their married or unmarried daughters back to their home as a ritual.
6. Dussehra is not only celebrated in India but also in Nepal, Bangladesh and Malaysia. A National holiday is declared on the day of Dussehra in these countries.
7. Dussehra is also related to Lord Rama killing demon Ravana. Lord Rama seeked help from Maa Durga, who revealed to him about the secret of killing Ravana.
8. Another most important thing to mention about Dussehra is Ramleela, which is a dramatic folk enactment of the life of Lord Rama, according to Hindu epic Ramayana. Ramleela ends with putting big effigy of Ravana on fire. The grandest Ramleela is held in Ramleela Maidan of Delhi. This happens every year to remember that truth and justice always prevails.