Dussera is one of the most popular festivals of India and it is also known as Vijayadashami. Vijaya means victory and Dashami is the tenth day so after a long battle of nine days, on the tenth day, Goddess Durga assassinated the demon Mahishasura. The festival of Dussehra holds immense significance and is cheerfully celebrated in all parts of the country.

When is Dussehra actually celebrated?

As per the Gregorian Calendar, Dussehra 2020 falls on the 25th of October month. According to the Hindu lunar calendar, Dussehra is celebrated during the full moon day on the tenth day of month Ashwin.

Dussehra Significance

According to Ramayana, Lord Rama defeated Ravana on this day which is celebrated as Dussehra. The sister of Ravana named Shurpanakha fell in love with Rama and Laxmana and she wanted to marry one of them. As Laxmana refused to marry her and Rama was already married to Sita, she got rejections from both of them.

Frustrated by the rejection, Shurpanakha tried to kill Sita which made Laxmana get angry and he cut off her ears and nose to teach her lesson so that she could never return to trouble them. To take revenge for her sister’s insult and laceration, Ravana kidnapped Sita. Lord Rama and Laxmana fought with Ravana with the help of Hanumana and his huge army of monkeys to rescue Sita. Lord Rama won the battle by killing the demon king Ravana and the victory of Lord Rama is celebrated as Dussehra among the Hindus of India.

What to do on Dussehra

Dussehra festival is observed in different ways and traditions in various parts of India. In northern states of India, cities are decorated with bright lamps, and the play based on the story of Ramayana is enacted by people which shows the victory of good over evil. In some of the states of India, people celebrate the victory of Lord Rama and Goddess Durga by worshipping the idols of Rama and Durga.

People celebrate this festival by singing and dancing. In southern states of India, devotees worship idols of Goddess Laxmi, Goddess Sarawati, and Goddess Durga who are goddesses of wealth, knowledge, and strength in the joyous celebration of Dussehra. In some of the Parts of India, people celebrate the victory of Lord Rama over Demon King Ravana by burning the puppets of Ravana.

Benefits of Dussehra

• Devotees will be blessed with firmness to succeed in every battle of life.
• This festival instils a sense of courage into the lives of devotees
• Devotees will be blessed with the strength to fight any difficult situations
• Negative energies like anger, jealousy, doubts, and selfishness will vanish by worshipping Goddess Durga during Dussehra festival