Dussehra or Vijay Dashmi is a major Hindu festival. It means Victory of Good over Evil. It is celebrated on the 10th day, following the nine days of Navratri celebrations. Dusshera is celebrated all over the country with great joy and enthusiasm. It is considered as one of the most important religious festivals in India. It usually falls twenty days prior to DIWALI.
There are many legends associated with Dusshera. Dussehra marks the victory of Lord Rama with the end of ten headed Lanka king-Ravana. It is believed that Lord Rama took the blessing of Goddess Durga and performed the Chandi Puja to kill the evil Ravana,who abducted Maa Sita. Lord Rama's wife. In North India, this festival is celebrated grandly with the burning of effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnath.
According to another legend, Dussehra marks the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahisasura. According to the story, when Asuras or the Demigods became more powerful than Devas, Goddess Durga took the form of SHAKTI to kill Mahisasura. The fight lasted for nine days and on the 10th day, Mahisasura was killed. In Eastern India, huge idols of Goddess Durga depicting her slaying Mahisasura are set up and worshiped with grandly.
Traditionally according to Indian culture,Dusshera was full of dances,where the whole community met,mixed and mingled. But to some extent nowadays, it has lost its vibrancy. But in some parts of the country, it is still celebrated grandly with pomp. People wear new clothes, exchange gifts and greetings, prepare delicacies and decorate houses and shops with garlands and Torans.
In North India, plays based on Lord Rama i.e RAMLEELA are performed and watched by all generations on huge grounds with huge crowds.Finally, it is ended by burning the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghanath.
Eastern India celebrates it as Durga Visarjan i.e Goddess Durga returns to Lord Shiva after her nine-day stay at her parent's house. Large life size clay idols of Maa Durga are worshiped for nine days and immersed on the 10th day.
There is a ritual of 'SINDOOR KHELA', where married woman applies sindoor on the feet of Goddess Durga and then smear themselves with Sindoor, with this they believe in prosperity and longevity of their spouse.
Western India worships Goddess Durga for nine days of Navratri and on the 10th day ,the idols are interested .They worship APTA or BIDI tree and exchange its leaves wishing each other good luck, health, and happiness. In Maharashtra, some observe ritually crosses the borders of their community in a ceremony called SIMOLLANGHAN on Dusshera. They wish all good health and prosperity, irrespective of caste and religion.
In South India, Dussehra celebrations are held with grand splendor and magnificence. In Mysore, it is considered as 'NADA ABBA' OR STATE FESTIVAL. Mysore is world famous for its Dussehra festival celebrations.
Raja Wodeyar started the celebration in 1610 on a grand scale Srirangapatnam. Mysore Palace or the whole city is grandly decorated and illuminated. Royal family performs some rituals with selected audiences. Later a Wrestling Competition is held where wrestlers from all over the world participate. Colorful processions are taken out the streets. The day starts with pooja to NANDIWAJ. Later Goddess Chamundeshwari is carried on a decorated elephant. Singers, Dancers, folk dancers,police bands also perform during this procession. Later in the evening, the effigy of Ravana is burnt with spectacular fireworks. This day is considered auspicious for starting of any education, art or music, and Saraswati Puja is also performed --VIDYA ARAMBHAM, the beginning of vidya or education of small kids takes place on this day.
Another attraction is the Dusshera Exhibition which starts on this day and goes on for two months.It is held at Doddakere Ground just opposite the Mysore Palace. It has stalls selling clothing, glassware, food stalls, Karnataka handicrafts with play areas and amusement rides. Finally, a 'Jamboo Savari' or a colorful procession is taken out. It is known throughout the world and tourist throng to catch the glimpse and be part of this magnifying celebration in Mysore.
Dushera is not only celebrated in India but also in other Countries as well like Nepal, Bangladesh. Bangladesh celebrations are similar to Bengal. whereas, in Nepal, it is called a Dashain. Elders on this day apply tilak on their young ones. The family for prosperity and health and wealth. Jamara is sown and the first day which becomes 10 cm long is prayed, which is considered as a symbol of victory people visit with their families, friends and exchange gifts and greetings in Nepal too.