Shubh Vijaydashami (Happy Dussehra) – Festival of Good vs Evil – October 2014

Vijaydashami, also called Dussehrra is a large holiday celebrated by Hindus internationally and represents the notion of ‘GOOD/TRUTH vs. EVIL’. Vijaydashmi’s origin and symbolism is based on the historic defeat of King Ravana of Lanka by Lord Shri Ram. Dusshera is celebrated all over India, but is more followed in North India as Lord Shri Ram has a stronger following there. VijayDashmi is also celebrated outside of India where there are large Hindu communities such as Nepal, Australia, Canada, UK, United States, Trinidad and Guyana.

Dusshera is celebrated on the 10th day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin, or Ashwayuja which falls in September or October of the Western calendar, a few days or weeks before the largest Hindu festival – Diwali (Deepavali). The first 9 days are celebrated as Navami which celebrates Goddess Durga and culminates on the 10th day as Vijaydashmi. Many Hindus observe Vijaydashmi through social gatherings and food offerings to Bhagwan (another word symbolizing GOD)  at their home temple or community Hindu temples.

The Ramleela is an enactment of the life of Lord Shri Ram and most commonly performed as a play during the Nine days preceding Dusshera. On the Tenth day (Dusshera or Vijaydashmi), large representations of Lord Ravana, his son and brother – Meghnadh and Kumbhakarna are set to fire.

One derivation of the word Dusshera is from dashhara. ‘Dash’ means ten and ‘hara’ means defeated. Nine days before Dusshera, in the nine days of Navaratri, all the ten directions are saturated with the female deity’s (devi’s-Shakti) energy. ‘Shakti’ has control over creation in all the ten directions (dikbhav), attendants (gan), etc. That is why this day is known as Dashhara, Dasera, Vijayadashmi, etc. This is one amongst the three and a half auspicious moments (muhurts) of the year. This falls on the tenth day (dashami) of the bright fortnight of Ashvin. The immersion of the Navratri (female deity) is done on the ninth day (navami) or the tenth day. Four rituals namely crossing the territory (Simollanghan), worship of the Shami tree (Shamipujan), worship of the deity Aparajita (Aparajitapujan) and worship of instruments (Shastrapuja) should be performed on this day. Dussehra is the festival of Victory of Good over Evil. There are many variations to this feat, that are believed all across India. Dussehra is also referred to as the end of Navratri and Durgotsav, Dashahara, Dashain, Vijayadashami, Dashhara and Vijayadasami.

For many Hindus, Dusshera can also be a time of sorrow and fear. Over the year, many Vijaydashmi celebrations and its celebrants in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan have been attacked, vandalized or desecrated by groups of  Muslim extremists. Many of these attacks by extremists on Hindus were caused due to the large public gatherings that take place where Hindu symbols are present and are found offensive by some Muslim communities.

The Chakra team wishes everyone a happy and shubh VijayDashmi/Dusshera. Jai Shri Ram.

Here is a video of some fun Vijaydashmi celebrations in North India where Hindus are burning effigies of the evil King Ravana: