Why Dussera festival is Celebrated
India is a most religious country in the world with many festivals Celebrated where in Dussera festival is a big season for festivals which is celebrated with different names throughout the country by Hindus. Dussera festival is the most popular and enthralling festivals of India celebrated with great joy and zeal. Dussera festival is also known as “Vijayadashami” since it is celebrated with the Victory of Good over Evil.
The Dussera festival celebration is unique in its perspective and significance. During Dussera festival people worship Mother Goddess Shakti Matha in her nine different incarnations for nine days which are called as Navrathri which are divided in worshiping three goddesses. From the starting day to third day goddess Durga Matha is worshipped, then another three days Goddess Laxmi Matha is worshipped and the last three days are which are considered the most important where Goddess Saraswati Matha is worshipped. Then after Navrathri the tenth day is celebrated as Dussera where Goddess Durga Matha is worshipped along with Lord Ram a human avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Dussera festival is called as Vijayadashami for the victory of Ram over Lanka king Ravana who abducted Lord Ram’s wife Sita Matha when they were in Vanvas. Then Lord Ram, his brother Laxman and their follower fought against Ravana in a great battle for ten days to rescue Sita Matha from Lanka. Thus how Lord Ram gained victory over Ravana.
This great festival Dussera is also symbolizes the victory of Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. According to popular mythology, the gods were compelled to grant Mahishasura indomitable powers for his unparalleled meditation. As expected, the powerful buffalo-demon Mahishasura raised hell at the gates of heaven, frightening the gods with his mammoth dominion. The infuriated gods then created Durga who killed this demon Mahishasura, were people celebrate Vijayadashami festival.
So Hindus observe a 10 day ceremony of fast, rituals, celebrations, fiests to honor the mother Goddess and triumph of Lord Rama for the victory of good over evil. Dussera festival starts with the celebration of Navratri and ends on the tenth day with Dussera festival throughout the country at the same time with varying rituals.
It is believed that on these nine-days worshipping the ‘Shakti’ form of Goddess Durga the householders would attain the threefold power i.e. physical, mental and spiritual, which helps him to progress in life without any difficulty.
In most of the regions in India during nine days of Dussera festival the ‘Ramlila’ – an enactment of the life of Lord Rama, is held with great enthusiasm in the evenings, and year after year where people come in huge numbers to watch the saga unfold.
And on the Tenth day effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnath are burnt who are meant for evil is burnt.
On this day Pandava’s took their wepons from Jambi Tree where they kept these weapons at the time of their agnatha vasam and started war againest King Duryodhana and got victory. In South the leaves of this Jambi tree people share with each other and take blessings from them.