Vijayadashami 2023: Date, History, Significance, Story & more.

Vijayadashami Quick Facts

History of Vijayadashami

Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, is a major festival of Hindus. It is a major Hindu festival celebrated every year at the end of Navratri. It is celebrated on the seventh, tenth day of the month of Ashwin in the Hindu luni-solar calendar. Lord Rama killed Ravana on this day and Goddess Durga conquered Mahishasura after nine nights and ten days of war. It is celebrated as the victory of truth over untruth.

The history of Vijayadashami is believed to be from the Mahabharata period. Lord Rama had conquered Ravana on his return from exile on this day. Hence, Vijayadashami is performed in Ramlila as characters like Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman. On the occasion of this victory, people worship the lamps with joy and enthusiasm.

Story of Vijayadashami

Ramayana legend: Vijayadashami is primarily related to the legend of Lord Rama and the demon king Ravana. According to this legend, Lord Rama fought in Lanka to rescue his wife Sita from Ravana's captivity. He had achieved victory by killing Ravana and returned to Ayodhya. On the attainment of this victory, Indians started celebrating the festival of Vijayadashami.

Mahishasurmardini: According to this legend, Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Kali, Goddess Parvati, Goddess Sangya etc. were killed by Maa Durga together with her power to kill the demon named Mahishasura. The day is celebrated with the worship of Maa Durga and presentation of Mahishasuramardini Katha.

Durga Puja: Maa Durga is worshiped during Navratri before Vijayadashami. According to this legend, Maa Durga conquered the Asuras by killing a demon named Durgasur. During Durga Puja, an idol of Goddess Durga is worshiped and stories of incarnations of the Goddess are narrated for nine days.

Significance of Vijayadashami

In ancient times, kings used to pray for victory on this day and leave for war. Because this day is considered a symbol of victory, fairs are held at various places on this day. Ramlila is organized. A huge effigy of Ravana is made and burnt. Whether Dussehra or Vijayadashami is celebrated as the victory of Lord Rama or as Durga Puja, in both the forms it is a festival of Shakti-worship, the date of worship of weapons. It is a festival of joy and gaiety and victory.

Indian culture is a worshiper of bravery, a worshiper of bravery. The festival of Dussehra has been kept so that valor should be manifested in the blood of the individual and the society. The festival of Dussehra gives good inspiration to give up the ten kinds of sins – lust, anger, greed, infatuation, jealousy, ego, laziness, violence and theft.

How to celebrate Vijayadashami

Worship of Maa Durga: Maa Durga is worshiped on the day of Vijayadashami. It includes worship of the idol or idol of the mother, fasting, aarti and recitation of hymns. People keep prasad in front of the mother and offer her bhog.

Ramlila: Ramlila is staged on the day of Vijayadashami. It is a drama in which the story of Lord Rama is presented. People watch it carefully and enjoy participating and acting in Ramlila.

Vijayadashami Rally: Rally is organized at many places on the day of Vijayadashami. It includes idols, chariots, tableaux, musical instruments and dances from different religious communities.

Modern Form: On the day of Vijayadashami, people celebrate it through social gathering, enthusiastic care, food and gift-giving. On this day people greet each other and exchange dolls, sweets and wishes as a sign of happiness.

Tradition and customs of Vijayadashami

The festival of Vijayadashami is celebrated in different ways in different parts of India, but there are some mainly prevalent customs.

Dussehra festival in Bengal:In Bengal, Odisha and Assam, this festival is celebrated only as Durga Puja. Along with which this festival is the most important festival of Bengalis, Odias, and people of Assam. This festival is celebrated for five days in Bengal. In Odisha and Assam, the festival lasts for 4 days. Every year on the Dussehra festival, Goddess Durga is enshrined in grandly decorated pandals. Along with which the idol of Durga is prepared every year.

Dasara festival in Tamil Nadu:In Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Dussehra lasts for nine days in which three goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati and Durga are worshipped. For the first three days, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, is worshipped. The next three days Saraswati, the goddess of arts and learning, is worshiped and on the last day, Goddess Durga, the goddess of power, is worshipped. The place of worship is well decorated with flowers and lamps. People give sweets and clothes to each other. Here Dussehra is inspiring for children to learn new work related to education or art.

Dussehra festival in Karnataka:Dussehra of Mysore located in Karnataka is also famous all over India. During Dussehra in Mysore, the streets of the entire city are decorated with lights and elephants are decorated and a grand procession is taken out across the city. At this time the famous Mysore palace is decorated like a bride with lamp holders. Along with this, people in the city enjoy the procession of dance and music with torch lights. Ravana-Dahan is not organized in these Dravidian states.

Dussehra festival in Gujarat:In the Indian state of Gujarat, a colorful pot made of clay is considered a symbol of the goddess and unmarried girls carry it on their heads to perform a popular dance called Garba. Garba dance is the pride of this festival. Men and women dance by moving two small colored sticks to the beat of the music. Devotional, film and traditional folk-music all have an adjustment on this occasion. After worship and aarti, Dandiya Raas is organized throughout the night. Buying gold and jewelry is considered auspicious during Navratri.

Dussehra festival in Maharashtra:In Maharashtra, nine days of Navratri are dedicated to Maa Durga, while the tenth day (the day of Dussehra) is dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge. On this day school going children worship the tantric symbols of Maa Saraswati to get blessings in their studies. This day is considered very auspicious to start anything, especially to start education. The people of Maharashtra consider this day as an auspicious time for marriages, house-warming and buying new houses.

More info about Vijayadashami

In many cities, on the day of Dussehra, huge processions are taken out in anticipation of the victory of Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman. In this, the idols of Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman ji are collected and displayed in the markets and streets of the cities with great pomp. In many places, cultural programs are organized on the day of Dussehra. These may include dance, music, drama, theatre, film evenings, poetry recitals and art exhibitions. Sky Lantern Festival is organized at many places on the day of Dussehra. In this people fly Chinese kites in the sky and send their hopes and prayers to the sky. It is a romantic and grand sight. Some people do charity and services on this day. They help hospitals, ashrams, children's homes, poor and helpless people.

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