By TradeIndia Team in Trending Now — 20 Oct 2023

How Dussehra or Vijayadashami Celebrated in Different Regions of India 2024

Dussehra or Vijayadashami is the celebration of the triumph of Lord Rama over Ravana and the victory of the most celebrated hindu goddess Durga over the bovine asura, Mahishasur. This festival marks the commencement of the season of festivals in India. It is the most celebrated hindu festival signifying the victory of good (dharma) over evil (adharma). In this blog, we will take a look at the origin, significance and the different ways Vijayadashami 2024 is celebrated in different parts of India.

Exploring the Origin of Dussehra

The mythological stories of the origin of Dussehra or Durga Puja vary in the different regions in India. In some regions of India, this festival signifies the day when Goddess Durga killed the demon or asura, Mahishasura which is the reason why nine avatars of Durga are worshipped during Navratri. Also the idols of Goddess Durga are immersed in water which symbolises her departure from the material world.

In the southern part of India, majorly Mysore, Karnataka, Dussehra festival is celebrated to mark the day when Goddess Durga’s avatar, Chamundeshwari killed the demon Mahishasura. The entire city is decorated and parades of elephants carry the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari throughout the city. Vijayadashami is celebrated in north India as the day when Lord Rama killed Ravana in Lanka. In accordance with Hindu Mythology, Ravana was a 10 headed demon who abducted Sita, the wife of Prince Rama. He had the boon of being indestructible from Lord Bramha. In the events of a battle between Rama and Ravana, Lord Rama managed to kill Ravana which is the reason why Dussehra or Vijayadashami is celebrated to mark the supremacy of good over evil.

When it comes to the stories behind the origin of Dussehra, one more interesting story is prevalent in some regions of India. Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers obliterated the Kuru Clan which included some of the greatest warriors like Ashwathama, Karna, Drona, and Bhishma in the battle of Kurushetra. This was the same day when Lord Rama killed the demon Ravana, Kumbhkaran, and Meghanad in the hindu epic Ramayana.

Cultural Significance of Dussehra

The auspicious festival of Dussehra 2024 holds immense cultural and religious significance in the hindu culture. This joyous festival is celebrated to commemorate the victory of ‘dharma’ (good) over ‘adharma’ (evil) and on the 10th day of Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, the devotees pray for prosperity and good health. Although the celebration and the cultural practices differ in the different regions, the festival’s fabrics bind everyone together.

The significance of Dussehra in India includes:

Supremacy of good over evil is a recurring theme in the mythological stories of Hinduism like the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha. Dussehra shows respect to Lord Rama's victory over the demon king Ravana, as depicted in the hindu epic Ramayana.
The defeat of Ravana represents the triumph of inner strength over negativity that lies within oneself. Dussehra or Navaratri fosters the conquering of inner demons like ego, greed, and anger promoting self-reflection and personal growth.
Dussehra is a festival which beholds grand celebrations, elaborate burnings of the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakaran, and Meghnad, and traditional rituals. The festivities bring different communities together to foster the strengthening of social bonds and cultural identity.
This festival conveys valuable life lessons for the devotees. It highlights the significance of integrity, courage, and perseverance to fight with one’s inner demons. The mythological tales associated with it serve as moral compasses.
Dussehra marks the commencement of new journeys or beginnings. Many businesses begin operations on this day as it is considered an auspicious time to embark on new endeavours.
Dussehra also coincides with the completion of Durga Puja or Navaratri. The festival honours Goddess Durga's victory over the devious demon Mahishasura. It is the commemoration of feminine power. Apart from the triumph of good over evil, this festival celebrates feminine power, and courage as well.

Dussehra or Vijayadashami in Different Regions of India

Different regions in India celebrate this auspicious festival in their own unique way. Although the celebration varies in the different states, the devotion, enthusiasm, and sincerity of the devotees remains the same. Let’s explore the ways Dussehra is celebrated in India.

Celebration of Durga Pujo in Kolkata

Durga Puja, also known as Durga Pujo or Durgotsav in Kolkata is celebrated with great zeal and magnificence by the Bengali communities. The evening aarti sermons, the idols, the pandalas, and the visarjan during the festival are an unforgettable experience. Some of the rituals that are a must to be witnessed in Kolkata includes, Ashthami Pushpanjali, Kanya Puja, Sindur Khela, and lastly Vijayadashami Visarja on the last day of Dussehra.

Pandals are created based on different themes. Santosh Mitra Square, Hindustan Park, Hindustan Club, Samaj Sebi Sangha, Ballygunge Cultural Association Puja Pandal, Deshapriya Park, Ahiritola Sarbojanin Durgotsav, Singhi Park Sarbojanin Durgotsab, Shib Mandir Sarbajanin Durgatsab, Naktala Udayan Sangha Puja, Babubagan Club Sarbojanin Durga Puja, and, Badamtala Ashar Sangha are some of the places that can be visited on Dussehra 2024 for a majestic experience.

Celebration on the Gujarati Way with Garba

Dussehra in Gujarat is celebrated with a musical dance celebration known as Dandiya Ras-Garba which goes on for nine days. People all over the state gather in open spaces in the evening and celebrate the divinity of Goddess Durga, also known as Shakti. Garba, the traditional dance form of Gujarat, is enacted in a circular structure around a lit lamp, or a statue of Goddess Durga in the centre. For many devotees this dance form is also a spiritual dance as they tend to feel divinity while performing.

Ramlila & Ravan Dahan in Delhi

Durga Puja is the most awaited festival in Delhi celebrated with great splendour as the capital is a place of rich cultural diversity. The capital city holds immense importance for the festival of Dussehra. The city welcomes the festival with lights and colours everywhere following all the rituals and traditions. There is an immediate rise in the incoming tourists from all around the globe as the celebration grabs everyone’s attention with its beautiful events and festivities. On the last day of Navratri, tourists from all over the world gather in Delhi to see Ramlila, an enactment of the mythological tale of Rama. Later the tourists and the devotees witness Ravan Dahan where life-sized effigies of Ravana, his son Meghnada and brother Kumbhakarna are set up and are burned with firecrackers sparkling in the sky while the people chant the phrase ‘Jai Shree Ram’.

Jagrata and Kanjika in Punjab

In the state of Punjab, Dussehra is a very important festival and the people celebrate it with great pomp and sincerity. The first seven days of Navratri usually begin with fasting, after which ‘Jagrata,’ or devotional songs are performed throughout the night, to get the entire audience in a festive mood. On the eighth day of the festival, also known as Ashtami, the devotees break their fast. They arrange a Bhandara for nine young girls also known as ‘Kanjika’ while worshipping them.

Exceptional Dussehra Celebrations in Kullu

Among the remarkable celebrations in the different parts of India, Kullu Dussehra celebrations have gained a lot of popularity making it one of the best places to visit in Dussehra 2024. The celebrations in Kullu are a little different from the other regions. It starts after the 10th day of the festivities and goes on for a week when the devotees in other states are heading home. People worship Lord Raghunath on the fairground of Dhalpur Maidan in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh where the nearby villagers bring the statues of different local gods and goddesses in a holy procession. Some of the must visit events during the festival include the phool yatra, international folk festival, Naina Devi fair, and Kullu Fair.

Kulasai Dussehra in Tamil Nadu

Dussehra, known as Kulasai Dussehra is celebrated in a totally different way in the Kulasekarapattinam village of Tamil Nadu. The celebration commences in the 300 years old Mutharamman temple dedicated to Goddess Kali. The celebration reckons the pilgrims and devotees to dress up like the gods and goddesses of their choice. The married women in the village invite each other in the evening and exchange matrimonial symbols.

Rejoicing in Nature on Chhattisgarh

Chattisgarh celebrates a unique kind of Dussehra as well. The celebration is all about rejoicing in nature, spirituality and the deity of the state, Devi Danteshwari (the presiding deity of Bastar). Some of the unique rituals performed on Dussehra in Chhattisgarh are pata jatra - worship of wood, deri gadhai - installation of kalash, kachan gaadi - installation of throne for Devi Kachan, nisha jatra - night-time festival, muria durbar - conference of tribal chieftains, and ohadi - farewell to deities on last day of Dussehra.

Dussehra or Vijayadashami is a popular hindu festival that honours and commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasur and the defeat of Ravana in a battle with Lord Rama. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and sincerity in different ways in the different states of India. From the Durga Pujo in Kolkata to the celebration of Dussehra in Chhattisgarh, through this festival one can witness the rich cultural diversity prevalent in India.