Shubh Vijaydashami and Happy Dussehra 2014

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:

Ram Navami (Ram Nomi) 2012

Ram Navami, also referred to as Ram Nomi is the birth-day of Lord Shri Ram. Presently in 2012, Ram Navami will be celebrated on April 1st. It is the 9th day of the Hindu calender and coincides with the last day of Navaratri. Ram Navami is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over India and by Hindus around the world, but is more popular in northern parts of India.

Shri Ram is one of the most popular figures and deities in the Hinduism religion, specifically Vaishnavism and Vaishnava religious scriptures in South and Southeast Asia.

In Ayodhya, the Indian city believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram, he is worshipped as an infant or Ram Lalla. Most of the details of Ram’s life come from the Ramayana, one of the two great epics of ancient India. Born as the eldest son of Kausalya and Dasharatha, king of Ayodhya, Shri Ram is referred to within Hinduism as Maryada Purushottama, literally the Perfect Man or Lord of Self-Control or Lord of Virtue.

The day begins with the prayers dedictated to Sun. It is celebrated with the procession of Ram Nomi, in which people are dressed as Lord Shri Ram, Sita, Laxman and Shri Hanuman whereas others follow them dressed like Ram’s soldiers. Lord Ram is seventh incarnation of Vishnu bhagwan and is known as the God of peace and prosperity.

The Chakra team wishes everyone a happy Ram Navami. May Lord Shri Ram shower his blessings on everyone. Jai Shri Ram.