 Dussehra also known as Vijaya Dasami is celebrated as a victory of Ram over Ravana. On this day in Satya Yug, Ram (the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu), killed the ten headed king of Lanka, Ravana who had abducted Rama’s wife, Sita. Dussehra is the last day of Navratri; it falls on the 10th day of the waxing moon during the Hindu month of Ashvin (around September or October).
This celebration starts from Navratri and ends with the tenth day festival of “Dussehra”. Navratri and Dussehra is celebrated throughout the country at the same time, with varying rituals, but with great enthusiasm and energy as it marks the end of scorching summer and the start of winter season.
 Dussehra is the festival that commemorates this triumph of Good over Evil. Diwali comes exactly 20 days after Dussehra on Amavas (new moon), during fortnight of kartik, some time in October or November.
Dussera can also be interpreted as "Dasa-Hara", which means the cutting of the ten heads of Ravana. Songs are sung in praise of Rama and people in thousands witness 'Ramlila' - an enactment of the life of Lord Rama, which is held during the nine days preceding Dussehra. On the tenth day (Dussehra or Vijay Dasami), larger than life effigies of Ravana, his son and brother - Meghnadh and Kumbhakarna are set to fire.
Dussehra is also the day of the Saraswati or the deity of knowledge and learning.
It is also believed in Puranas that on this day, warrior Goddess Durga defeated and killed the buffalo demon Mahishasura. In Bengal the festival is known as Durga Puja and is the single most important festival for the Bengalis.
|
