Happy Dussehra | Fight the Demon Inside You, History & Significance of Dussehra

Team Adda247 wishes you all a very Happy Dussehra 2023: Dussehra is one of the most significant festivals of the Hindu religion. As per Hindu mythology, Rama killed Ravana, the king of Lanka on this day. It marks the victory of good over evil. It falls on the tenth day of Ashwin month according to Hindu Calendar. In this year 2023, Dussehra will be celebrated on 24th October. Dusshera also known as Vijayadashami and Dashain. Hindus in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal celebrate this festival by burning huge effigies of Ravana across the country. On this auspicious occasion, let us celebrate the triumph of good over evil with joy and gratitude.

Dusshera 2023

Dusshera is a ten-day-long festival in which the first nine days involve the worship of the goddess Durga. Goddess Durga is believed to have attained victory over the demon Mahishasura after fighting him for 10 days and nine nights. The 9 days are celebrated as “Navaratri” and people in South India keep Kolu in their homes and temples. On the tenth day, the day of Dussehra, effigies of Ravana, his son Meghnath and his brother Kumbhkaran are burnt all across the country.

Plays are organized across the country depicting the story of Ramayana that is popularly known as Ramleela. The main characters of the play are Rama, Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman. The heroic acts of Rama are sharply displayed in these plays. In the end, Ravana is killed by Rama, which portrays the victory of “good over the evil”. After the victory, Rama returned to Ayodhya along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman. Everyone gets together on this day, spend time with their family and loved ones, attend Ramleela plays on the life of Lord Rama, and worship the triumph of good.

History of Dusshera

According to the epic Ramayana, Ravan was the king of Lanka, was a devotee of Lord Shiva and got a boon from Lord Brahma for being indestructible. Ravan was most powerful and was very proud of using his powers. On that time Shree Rama, was exiled for 14 years with his wife Sita and younger brother Laxman. Shree Ram was the elder son of King Dashrath (king of Ayodhya). Rama is considered as the seventh form of Lord Vishnu. Ravan had kidnapped Lord Rama’s wife Sita and taken her to Lanka. Lord Rama was accompained by his brother Laxman and a follower Hanuman with an army of monkeys who went all the way to Lanka (the kingdom of Ravan). After that a battle takes place between Ram and Ravan in which Ram killed Ravan and ends his evil rule. From that time this day is celebrated as Dusshera. In eastern part of of India people worship Goddess Durga all the nine days and celebrate Dussehra as on that day the demon Mahisasura was killed by Goddess Durga. Dusshera is celebrated differently in many parts of India.

Significance of Dusshera

Importance and significance of Dussehra is described below:

• On this that Lord Rama killed Ravan who was the king of Lanka and was kidnapped Lord Rama’s wife. After an epic battle lasting for ten days and the day when Ravan defeat, was the 10th day of battle and half of the lunar month Ashwin, is celebrated as Dussehra. This festival which marks the triumph of good over evil, holds immense cultural and religious  significance.
• During the nine days preceding to Dussehra or Durga Puja, devotees in eastern states worship the nine avatars of Goddess Durga. Each of these nine forms represents a different side of Goddess Durga.
• People also prefer to buy new vehicles, properties or other new things on the day of Dussehra. It is an auspicious occasion and is believed to be the perfect day to start new project or business.
• People distribute gifts and sweets among their relatives and friends and also believe in celebrating this festival with their close ones. People pray for a new beginning in their lives and also ask for forgiveness for any wrong doings.

• This festival hoists the morale of everyone. It gives us the courage to fight against all the hurdles in our lives, no matter how poor the situation seems to be. There will be the victory of the righteous and virtuous. It is an auspicious day to start with any good work and the new era of well-being, be it your studies or any other new start in your life. Start with it and do your best.