Dussehra is regarded one of the most significant and important Hindu
festivals, celebrated across the nation with much fervor and gaiety. The
festival marks the victory of Lord Ram over demon king Ravana, which
means the victory of good over evil, light over darkness. Beautifully
decorated tableaux and processions depicting various episodes from Ram's
life are taken out on the streets. The tenth day or the Vijayadasami, is
considered to a very important day. Effigies of Ravana, his brother
Kumbhkarna and son Meghnad are burnt in open spaces. Actors dressed as
Ram, his wife Sita and brother Lakshman arrive and shoot arrows of fire
at these effigies, which are stuffed with firecrackers. As a part of the
celebration Ram Lila (drama depicting the episodes from the lives of
Ram, Sita and Lakshman) are staged in different regions of the country.
It is celebrated in different manner across the country. Besides Bengal
and Central India, Dussehra Parva is celebrated in other Indian states
with equal zeal and enthusiasm though with regional differences.
The nine days celebration of Dussehra in Tamil Nadu have been equally
divided for worshipping the three Goddesses namely Lakshmi (the first
three days are dedicated to the Goddess of wealth and prosperity),
Saraswati (the next three days are dedicated to the Goddess of learning
and arts) and Durga (the last three days are dedicated to Mother
Goddess, Shakti). Dussehra is celebrated in Punjab after nine days of
fasting during Navratri while Garba dance and music reigns the evenings
and nights of Gujarat during the ten days of the festival. In Himachal
Pradesh, the festival is marked by the grand processions of the village
deities of the hill people. While in Mysore the festival is celebrated
by the famous gala procession of richly bedecked elephants on the
brightly lit streets of the city on. In West Bengal Duga puja marks the
celebration of Dussehra. It is the most important festival of the
Begalis. It is celebrated for a period of five days across the state.
