Today every event even secular events like harvests take on religious overtones, with the patron deity presiding over the festivities. As soon as something happens, there is a kind of thanksgiving to the divine that follows it. It’s been said often enough that Hindus celebrate everything. So they do. The birth of gods, death of asuras, victory of the gods, marriage of the gods, the new year, new months, full moons, new moons, harvests, birthdays, initiations, marriages, deaths, anniversaries – you name the event, and it is reason for music, dance, processions, and what have you.
And there is the religious bit lurking behind it all. The reasons for this lie deep, in the origin of Hinduism as an organic religion. Its followers have over time considered anything, animate or inanimate, to be sacred and aspects of divinity.
Dussehra is celebrated as a festival of victory of good over evil. Where lord Ram defeated Ravana. Dashahara is also known as Dasara, Vijayadashami, Navaratri, and Durgotsav. It is celebrated in the lunar month of Ashwin (usually in September or October) from the Shukla Paksha Pratipada (the next of the New moon day of Bhadrapada) to the Dashami, or the tenth day of Ashwin.
On this day in the Treta Yug, Shri Ram (7th incarnation of Vishnu), killed the great demon Ravana who had abducted Ram’s wife Sita to his kingdom of Lanka. Ram, along, with his brother Lakshman follower Hanuman, and an army of monkeys fought a great battle to rescue his wife Sita. The war against Ravana lasted for ten days. The entire narrative can be read in the epic Ramayana, a Hindu scripture of immense significance.
Rama had performed “Chandi Hom” and invoked the blessings of Durga to kill Ravana. Durga blessed Rama with the secret to kill Ravana. Ravana was defeated in his own kingdom of Lanka by Rama & the vanarsena. Rama with Sita & Laxman returned victorious to his kingdom of Ayodhya on the Ashwin Shukla dashami. This victory of Rama is since then celebrated as “Vijaya Dashami”.
So also prior to the defeat of Ravana, when Rambhakt Shri Hanuman went to Lanka to search Sita, he found her on the day of Ashvin shukla dashami.
During these 10 days of Dasha-Hara, huge idols of Ravana, Kumbhakarna (brother of Ravana) & Meghanad (son of Ravana) are erected and are set on fire by the enthusiastic youth at the sun set.
After Dasha-Hara, the hot weather of the summer ends, especially in North India and as the winter starts, the cold weather becomes breeding ground for many kinds of infections. Hence burning huge Ravana statues filled with the crackers containing phosphorus purifies the atmosphere. At the same time the temples perform Chandi Homa or Durga Homa which also helps in purifying the atmosphere.
Many houses also perform Aditya Homa as a Shanti Yagna and recite Sundara Kanda of Srimad Ramayana for 9 days. All these Yagna Performances are to create powerful agents into the atmosphere surrounding the house so as to keep the household environment clean & healthy.
The purpose of performing these homas is also to kill & sacrifice the 10 bad qualities, which are represented by ten heads of Ravana as follows:
(1) Kama vasana (Lust), (2) Krodha (Anger), (3) Moha (delusion), (4) Lobha (Greed), (5) Mada (Over Pride), (6) Matsara (Jealousy), (7) Manas (Mind), (8) Buddhi (Intellect), (9) Chitta (will) & (10) Ahankara (Ego).
When is Dussehra Celebrated:
Usually in late September/early October each year. In 2010, Dussehra is on October 17. The date of the festival is determined according to the lunar calendar.
Where is Dussehra Celebrated:
Dussehra is predominantly a northern Indian festival. Delhi and Varanasi are popular places to witness the celebrations.
Elsewhere in India, Dussehra festivities take place in the Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh, Mysore in Karnataka, and Kota in Rajasthan.Mysore Dussehra celebrations are particularly famous.
In West Bengal, Navaratri and Dussehra are celebrated as Durga Puja.
How is Dussehra Celebrated:
In northern India, plays and dance performances known as Ramaleela, depicting the life of Rama, commonly take place in the lead up to Dussehra day. These shows are especially big in Varanasi.
Then on Dussehra, huge effigies of the demon Ravana are burned all over India.
In Mysore, as well as cultural performances and fairs, the highlight of the 10 day Dussehra celebration is grand parade of decorated elephants and guards mounted on horse back to escort the goddess through the city.
Dussehra dates for next 5 years
Year Dussehra dates
2010 Sunday 17 October
2011 Thursday 6 October
2012 Wednesday 24 October
2013 Monday 14 October
2014 Saturday 4 october
2015 Friday 23 October
Dussehra SMS
As the candlelight flame
Ur life may always be happy,
As the mountain high
U move without shy,
As sunshine creates morning glory
fragrance fills years as Flory,
All darkness is far away
As light is on its way.
Wishing U all a very Happy Vijaya Dashami.
On this auspicious occasion,
I wish the color, bliss and beauty
Of this festival…
Be with you throught the year!
Happy dusshera
May this Dasara,
light up for you.
The hopes of Happy times,
And dreams for a year full of smiles!
Wish you Happy Dasara.
As the candlelight flame
Ur life may always be happy,
As the mountain high
U move without shy,
As sunshine creates morning glory
fragrance fills years as Flory,
All darkness is far away
As light is on its way.
Wishing U all a very Happy Vijaya Dashami.
Let The Joy Of Festivity
Embrace You & Your Loved Ones
On The Occassion Of Dussehra This Year!
Very Very Happy Dussehra
To You & Your Family
Vijayadashami ka shubh parva
apke aur apke parivar ke jivan me sukh,
samradhi aur shanti bharde.
Happy Dussehra!!
Celibrate The Victory Of The
Force Of Good Over Evil.
Lets Celibrate An Auspicious Day
To Begin New Thing In Life.
Happy Dussera.
Jaise Ram ji ne Jeeta Lanka Ko,
Waise app bhi jeeten saari duniya.
Is dussehre mil jayen app ko,
Duniya bhar ki saari khushiyan.
Happy dussera………….!!!!!!!!!!!
I PRAY THIS DUSSEHRA SHOWERS UPON U….!
1. SHANTI
2. SHAKTI
3. SAIYAM
4. SAMMAAN
5. SARALTA
6. SAFALTA
7. SAMRIDHI
8. SANSKAAR
9. SWAASTHYA.
*Happy Dassara*
May Lord Rama always…
keep showering his blessings upon you….
May your life be prosperous and..
trouble free throughout.
Happy Dussehra.
ravan ke das sir dekhke mera dost bola ki yeh apne dus siron ka bhar kasain uttha leta hain hum to ek ka bhi nahi uttha pate sachin says tenshion hi itni thi unke pass ki das siron ka sahara lena padaDussehra
HaPpY 10HARARavan JalaoBurai ko aag lagaoAcchai ko apnaoKhub pio,khub kahorat ko so jao.
Everyday sun rise to give us a message that darknesswill always be beaten by light. Let us follow the samenatural rule and enjoy the festival of good defeatsevil. Happy Dashhara
A time for celebration, A time for victory of good over bad, A time when world see the example of power of good. Let us continue the same “true” spirit. Blessing of Dussehra
Burai par acchai ki jeet !
dussehra lata hai ek ummed..
Ravan ki tarah hamare dukhon ka ant ho….
ek nai shuruat ho ek naye savere k saath…
Happy Dasara
For Dussehra sms n orkut scraps go here