Dussehra – The Victory of Good Over Evil
Dussehra is a large pageant in India, celebrated with fireworks and the customary burning of Ravana, the ten-headed Lord of Lanka. The title Dussehra comes from his ten heads, and the victory of Lord Ram, in vanquishing evil and liberating his spouse Sita from the clutches of Ravana. Your entire saga begins with Ravana being drawn to Sita, and luring her out of the protective boundary created by Lord Ram’s brother, Lakshman. As soon as Sita is out of the Lakshman Rekha, Ravan takes the chance to kidnap Sita and takes her to his kingdom Lanka, the place he holds her captive and makes an attempt to win her affection.
Lord Rama rescues Sita from the palace of Ravana and returns to a hero’s welcome in his Kingdom of Ayodhya, together with Lord Hanuman and his brother Lakshman. In commemoration of this victory, and the battle between good and evil, the Dussehra celebration sees the burning of monumental dummies of King Ravana, particularly within the northern components of India. In some locations, the effigies of Ravana’s brother Kumbhakarna and son Meghanad are additionally burnt. The pageant can also be made vigorous with dance, drama and musical performs of Ramlila, which depicts the story of Ramayana. Today is the victory celebration of all that’s good in life, like freedom, love, loyalty, valour, and brotherhood, as seen within the mythological epic Ramayana.
Dussehra falls on the fag-end of the Navaratri festivities. The tenth tithi that falls on the Shukla Paksha (waxing section) through the month of Ashwin is well known in India and the world over as Vijayadashami. Today has been witness to a victory of humongous proportions on two separate events of Dharma over Adharma in historical historical past. Historically, this present day is well known because the end result of the 9-day Durga Navratri Puja, which heralds the season of Sharad or winter.
The 2023 Vijayadashami falls on Tuesday, October 24.
A number of threads of non secular significance from historical historical past come collectively to create a vibrant environment on the event of Vijayadashami. That is the day that’s universally celebrated because the day when good triumphed over evil. Probably the most well-known of them is the victory of Lord Rama over King Ravana. In an excellent ancient times, Goddess Durga eradicated from existence the Demon Mahishasura on this similar day. Due to this fact, Dussehra or Vijayadahsami is a day of nice celebration in all places in India, in addition to the world, wherever Indians have made their mark. Given Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura, this present day can also be spent within the worship and celebration of the character of the female, with all its purity and innocence, and this apply is usually adopted by practitioners of the vedic custom.
Devotees of the Hindu faith, who consider in Goddess Durga and Lord Ram, observe vrat or quick through the Navratri Durga Puja interval. They break their quick on Ashtami or the eighth tithi and observe Kanya Puja on the subsequent or ninth day. The final puja of Navaratri is the Parana, throughout which devotees full their quick and partake within the consumption of correct meals. Since this was the day when evil was slain by the hands of the great, Navratri Parana is taken into account an auspicious day on which new beginnings might be made.
All kinds of latest companies or endeavours are launched on this present day, as it’s thought-about extraordinarily auspicious. Kanya Puja is a particular ritual for Navratri Parana. As per Vedic tradition, younger ladies are believed to be the type of Goddess Durga in its truest kind. On this present day, folks normally worship 9 younger ladies representing the 9 types of Goddess Durga.
Should you want to observe Kanya Puja Vidhi, then you need to do the next –
- Invite 9 ladies and a boy to house for the puja
- The women symbolize the 9 types of Durga, and the boy represents Bhairon (Shiva)
- Wash their toes with clear water and wipe them with a fabric.
- Apply a tilak to the foreheads of the kids and pour akshat over them (combination of uncooked rice and turmeric).
- After that, do aarti.
- After that, the kids are served meals
- After that, Dakshina is given, and blessings are sought
Dussehra Celebration and Rituals
Now that you already know the importance of Dussehra, allow us to see how the pageant is well known in numerous components of the nation. A particular puja is carried out as a part of Dussehra celebrations by devotees to make sure happiness, well being, wealth, and prosperity in life. Goddess Durga is worshipped throughout this puja. Collaborating in Dussehra Puja is thought to realize the devotee blessings from the divine. It bestows happiness and prosperity within the household. It fulfills the needs and wishes of the devotee and blesses her or him with elevated wealth. Performing Dussehra Puja additionally protects the individual from the spite and malignant intentions of others.
Listed here are a few of the rituals you possibly can observe through the Dussehra Puja.
- Goddess Durga is worshipped within the North-East or the Jap path of the home. From there, she will be able to management the 9 planets in a horoscope.
- Chant Durga Suktam after ascertaining the path of worship. This mantra will beat back all unfavorable energies at house.
- After chanting the Suktam, the idol of Goddess Durga is positioned going through eastwards.
- Colourful Rangolis are laid out to carry optimistic power into the house. Darkish colours, particularly black, are prevented whereas laying out the Rangoli
- A string of mango leaves and marigold flowers are hung throughout doorways to ask luck, happiness, and success to your private home
- It’s believed that worshipping the Shami Tree on this present day can please Lord Shani and get his blessings. This may also carry devotees happiness and resolve their issues
- To present Inexperienced Gold (Leaves of Apta Tree) is taken into account fortunate and brings happiness and success to devotees.
As a part of this auspicious puja, you may as well supply your prayers to Lord Ram, Lakshman, Bharat, and Shatrughan. Often, components corresponding to flowers, fruits, jaggery, radish, rice, incense sticks, limestone, and cow dung are used throughout this auspicious puja. When you’ve got been wanting to buy electronics, autos, and gold ornaments, then Dussehra Day or Vijayadashami is the most effective day for such purchases. If you’re eager on embarking on a brand new enterprise, it is a nice alternative.
Durga Visarjan – Rituals to Comply with
The nine-day Navratri Puja involves an finish with the Durga Visarjan, which is carried out on the day of Vijayadashami. The 9 incarnations of Goddess Durga are worshipped through the 9 days of Navratri. On the tenth day, the idol is immersed in a river or a pond. That is known as Durga Visarjan. After Durga Visarjan, the Dussehra celebrations start. The title Durga in Sanskrit signifies ‘the impenetrable’. She was born by the mixed focus of the powers of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, and she or he exists in a situation of independence and excessive energy.
The finishing up of Durga Visarjan symbolizes the departure of the Goddess to her house and her husband, Lord Shiva, within the Himalayas. The submersion of the idols of Goddess Durga can also be to remind folks in regards to the cycle of creation and dissolution. Every part within the universe that has a starting, or takes start, has to expertise an finish and disintegration into the entire of the cosmos. In a manner, all the pieces, in the long run, returns to the cosmic ocean solely to rise once more in an never-ending cycle of start and dying.
You’ll be able to observe these rituals when performing Durga Visarjan ceremony –
After the Kanya Pujan, a flower and some rice grains are held within the palm, and a pledge is taken. The coconut positioned within the container is obtained as a prasad and provided to the household. The sacred water within the Kalash is sprinkled round the home and likewise consumed by the family members as prasad. The cash saved within the bowl are saved as financial savings. That is believed to show helpful in the long term. The betel nut can also be distributed as prasad to the family members. Now, hold the Singasan again within the place of worship. Place the idol of Lord Ganesha on the applicable place within the place of worship. Fruits and sweets are distributed as choices. Rice is collected and provided to the birds.
After taking the blessings of Goddess Durga, carry out the ritual of Visarjan in a river, lake, or sea. It’s thought-about auspicious to carry out Visarjan in a river or lake. All of the Puja necessities must also be immersed within the holy waters. No hurt must be delivered to the idol of Goddess Durga on the way in which to Visarjan. Correct aarti must be carried out earlier than Ma Durga’s Visarjan. This ritual creates an surroundings of pleasure and happiness among the many gathered folks.
Dussehra and Vijayadashami are two main Indian festivals that coincide on the identical day and have fun the victory of excellent over evil. Take this chance to take away evil out of your lives and create a pure and fulfilling existence.
