Dussehra or Vijayadashami Celebrations in India with burning of effigy of Ravana

 

Every year Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day of Ashvin month.  It starts with the celebrations of Navaratri (the nine holy days) and on the tenth day Dussehra comes.  It is believed that lord Rama along with the army of monkeys attacked the Kingdom of Lanka, to get Goddess Sita freed from the clutches of Demon King Ravana. This fight went on for ten days and on tenth day at the time of sunset, Lord Rama executed Demon King Ravana also the king of Kingdom of Lanka.  This epic battle is called as win of good over evil.  And this day is celebrated by Hindus by burning the effigies of Demon King Ravana, his brother Kumbkarana, and his son Megnath. 

 

            It is believed that on this day Pandavas also won the epic battle of Mahabharata.  And on this day the nine days festivities of Navratri come to end which is believed by Hindus the period of Nine-day fight of Goddess Durga with Demon Mahishasura. 

 

            In North-India people eat Jalebis a local sweet after the burning of effigies of Demon King Ravana.  In rural areas the “Ramleela” is organized. Which is depiction of various events of Ramayana and epic battle of Ramayana.  The festival of Dussehra is celebrated in different regions of India in different ways.  But it is celebrated in grand way in Mysore, a district in Southern state of Karnataka. 

 

            Mainly this festival is celebrated as mark of win of good over evil. And after twenty days of Dussehra comes the festival of Deepawali.