Dussehra, also known as Vijaydashmi, is one of the biggest festivals in India that is celebrated during the Ashwin month as per the Hindu calendar or between September and October. It is celebrated after the nine days of Navratri.
Dussehra is a celebration of good over evil, a festival that many observe to celebrate the victory of Maa Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. Some states in India also observe the festival as the victory of Lord Rama in battle against Ravana.
Each corner, street, or main road of India is lit with lights. In many cities, Hindus set up a beautiful Maa Durga statue slaying the demon Mahishasura. The entire ambiance and mood of the festival during the Navratri and Dussehra are of the utmost joy and enthusiasm.
The joy and happiness of celebrating this festival are equal in all parts of India, but the celebration varies from region to region. In this blog, we will discuss the different Vijaydashmi or Dussehra celebrations in India. Keep reading below:
Table of Contents
Dussehra celebrations in Northern India
In the northern India, Dussehra is celebrated as the day when Lord Rama defeated Ravana, marking good over evil. States like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh celebrate this festival with unique and fun rituals.
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar: In these states, people celebrate Vijaydashmi by burning the sky-high effigies of Ravana, his son Meghnad, and brother Kumbhakaran. People gather in open playgrounds here. Beautiful giant effigies are erected, made of husks, and decorated with paintings. This custom of Dussehra is called Ravan jalawan or Ravan dehan, which marks the victory of good over evil and the end of the Dussehra festival.
Himachal Pradesh: Dusshera in Kullu in Himachal Pradesh is celebrated with the utmost joy and enthusiasm. The festival is uniquely celebrated for seven days. A large fair is organized where millions of people gather to celebrate the festival. They worship Lord Raghunath in the Dhalpur Maidan. It’s a vast and joyful festival celebrated in this region of Himachal.
Delhi: Dussehra is a big festival in the capital of India as well. People here celebrate the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana by enacting the story of Ramayana called Ram Leela. This beautiful theatrical version of the epic Ramayana continues for the entire month preceding Dussehra in various grounds and theatre halls.
People also celebrate the occasion by fasting for all nine days of the Navratri or the first and the last day. Many places also set up pandals and statues of Maa Durga, where her devotees visit her. All in all, Delhi gets all lit up in color, glamour, and joy during Dussehra.
Rajasthan: Located in the northwestern region of India is the royal state of Rajasthan. People in Rajasthan celebrate the victories of Maa Durga and Lord Rama on Dussehra with the same joy and enthusiasm as others. It’s a major festival in the state, especially in the Mewar region and for the Rajput warriors.
Dussehra celebrations in Eastern India
Dussehra is one of the biggest festivals in the eastern part of India, particularly in West Bengal. Here’s how the different states in this region celebrate this joyous occasion:
Chhattisgarh: This state falls in the northeastern part of India, and the Dussehra celebrations here are unique. People, on the occasion of Vijaydashmi, celebrate nature, spirituality, and the deity of the state. The deity they worship on this festival is Devi Danteshwari, the presiding deity of Bastar.
People also follow some unique rituals to celebrate this festival, such as pata jatra, which is the worshipping of wood, the installation of Kalash, installation of the throne of Devi Kachan, Nisha Jatra, or the nighttime festival; muria durbar meaning the conference of tribal chieftains, and farewell to the deities or had on the last day.
West Bengal: Dussehra is one of the biggest and the most awaited festivals for everyone in West Bengal. The festival here is known as Bijoya Dashomi. All the streets of West Bengal are lit up to celebrate the victory of Maa Durga over the evil demon Mahishasura. People in Bengal go to the fairs hosted and gorge on delicious nonveg snacks and dishes. They visit the magnificent idols of Maa Durga with Ganesha, Saraswati, and Lakshmi and offer prayers.
On the Bijoya Dashomi, or the final day, the idols of Maa Durga and other gods are then carried by a procession. Married women don red sarees and apply vermillion to each other as a mark of joy and a symbol of a long married life. This is one of people’s most fun, joyous, and even emotional times. All the god idols are then immersed in water. People celebrate the occasion by visiting their loved ones and distributing sweets and Dussehra gifts as a token of love and happiness.
Some communities in West Bengal celebrate the eleventh day of Ekadashi by visiting a Durga temple.
Dussehra celebrations in West India
Dussehra is also celebrated with the utmost enthusiasm and joy in the air in western India. The festival here is observed for ten days, Navratri and the final day as VIjaydashmi. Idols of gods and goddesses are placed in homes and even in societies. These idols are then immersed in the water on the festival’s final day. People pay a visit to the idols of the gods and visit their loved ones with Navratri gifts and sweets.
Gujarat: In Gujarat, people celebrate Dussehra as Navrata for nine days before Vijaydashmi. Maa Durga and Lord Rama are revered for their win over evil. For nine days, people get dressed up in traditional Gujarati outfits and lehenga choli and participate in the folk dance of the state, Garba, and dandiya until midnight. People also celebrate the festival by giving fast. During these nine days, Ahmedabad and many other cities in the state become energized to celebrate this festival.
Maharashtra: Dussehra is both of religious and historical significance to the Maharashtrians. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Shivaji and the Peshwas started their new military army on Dussehra to challenge the Mughal Empire.
Dussehra here is also known as Dasara, and people on this day wear new clothes and touch the feet of their elderly as a mark of respect and to seek their blessings. The idols of gods and goddesses set up for the Navratri are then immersed in water on Vijaydashmi. People visit their loved ones, exchange delicious sweets and Dussehra gifts, and celebrate the day together.
Some tribal communities in Maharashtra, such as Warli and Kokna, exchange Apta tree leaves as a symbol of gold.
Dussehra celebrations in South India
Dussehra, or Vijaydashmi, is celebrated in various ways in the different parts of South India. The forts and temples are lit to display the colorful figurines called gold, and many other celebrations are held.
Karnataka: Dussehra is also a widely celebrated festival in Karnataka. Here, the Navratri and Dussehra are celebrated by worshipping all the nine avatars of Maa Durga in nine days. Every temple in the state places the idols of the different avatars of the Goddess for puja.
In Shivamoga, Bangalore, Mysore, and other cities, many cultural programs and competitions are held by communities. On the Vijaydashmi, the idols of the Maa Durga are taken in a procession and then immersed in the water. People also exchange leaves of the Shami tree to represent gold, which is done to celebrate the victory of good over evil.
Dussehra is a grand affair in the captivating town of Coorg. Here, the festival is celebrated carnival-like, known as the Mariamma festival. People celebrate this festival by performing folk dances which are dedicated to Draupadi. They also organize a parade where dramas depicting the stories of goddesses, gods, and demons are performed.
Tamil Nadu: In Tamil Nadu, Dussehra is celebrated in a very unique way. On this occasion, they worship Goddess Durga, Saraswati, and Lakshmi. People also arrange famous doll shows at the festival. Married women invite each other to their homes and give cosmetics and accessories that signify matrimonial symbols. They also give betel nuts, money, and coconuts to each other.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Dussehra is celebrated in which month?
Dussehra is a Hindu festival celebrated every year at the end of Navratri. It is celebrated on the tenth day of Ashwin or between September and October, per the English calendar.
Q. Dussehra is celebrated in which states of India?
Dussehra is one of the eminent festivals celebrated with the utmost zeal and joy across India. In some states, the festival holds immense importance and is celebrated on a broader scale. These states include West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh.
Q. Why is Dussehra celebrated?
Dussehra is one of the most eminent festivals for Hindus. The festival is a celebration of the victory of good over evil. Dussehra is observed to celebrate the war between Lord Rama and Ravana that lasted for ten days.
The festival is also observed to commemorate the victory of Maa Durga against the evil Mahishasura.
Q. Does Nepal also celebrate Dussehra?
Besides India and the country where many Indians reside, Nepal is one such country that also celebrates Dussehra. Many rituals of the festival are very similar to those followed in India. In Nepal, Vijayadashmi is called Dashain; on this day, younger people visit their elders. People living distant from their families come back home on this day.
Many students also visit their school teachers to seek their blessings. The elders and the teachers apply tilak on their foreheads and give them dakshina or a small amount of money with blessings.
Q. How to send Dussehra gifts to India?
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Pratiksha is our in-house content writer who aims to provide quality content to her readers. In her free time, she enjoys reading and writing, and learning about new things.