VijayaDashami

[Guest guest]

Vijaya (the bengalis call it Bijoya) Dashami

brings tearful memories of the Goddess Durga departing

from our midst, crowds gathering at the banks of the

rivers to watch the immersion of the Goddess and her

children. <br><br>‘Sindur Khela’ (vermilion game) is a

major event of Dashami. Married women apply vermillion

to each other and greet each other with sweets. It

is in the evening when Goddess Durga is immersed.

Bengalis greet each other with Bijoya greetings and men

follow the customary ‘Kolakuli’ (embrace each other).

Bijoya is a special ritual whereby peace and good

relations are reaffirmed. Families exchange sweets and

people embrace each other, vowing brotherhood. Bijoya

continues till the next new moon, when Kali Puja is

held.<br><br>Kaviguru RabindraNath Tagore said :<br><br>"Sharate aaj

kon otiithi elo praner darey<br>Ananda gan garey

hriday, ananda gan garey <br>Neel akashey nirab kotha,

shishir bheja baykulata<br>Beje uthuk aaji tomar beenar

tarrey tarey," <br><br><br>Meaning - "Behold the guest

at the step of my soul today this autumn<br>Let my

heart sing songs of joy, sing songs of joy<br>Let the

bursting silence of the azure sky, and the dew-drenched

exuberance<br>Break on today on your strings of

harp."<br><br>"Gachha, gachha param sthanam swasthanam Parameswari.

<br>Sangvatsar batitetu punaragamanyacha"<br><br>(the goddess of

the goddesses, well go to your scared own abode, but

come again as usual next year).<br><br>This day is

called 'Bijaya Dashami' - all kiths and kins, friends

and acquaintances, neighbours and strangers,

forgetting their differences, if any, congregate and embrace

each other. They are victorious and happy in

subjugating the sinner Ausura and thus fill their hearts with

complacence. Thus Bijoya stands as the occasion of fraternity

and friendship.<br><br><br>As the story goes, Lord

Rama was the first to perform Durga Puja in the autumn

while he was preparing to fight Ravana. And on the day

of Dashami, Ravana was eliminated and the Vijay

(victory) came. Thus the day is called "Vijaya

Dashami."<br><br>Markandeya Purana says that Durga emerged in the mundane

world to eliminate the devils. She had subjugated

Mahisasura and his accomplices to free the world from evils.

After the rains the dark clouds move away and the

autumn comes with all its light beauty and splendour, as

if coinciding with the significance of Sharadiya

Durgotsav.<br><br>A HAPPY VIJAYA DASHAMI TO

ALL<br><br><br>"Rupangdehi, jayangdehi, yashodehi disho zahi" (Give me light,

give me success, give me fame eliminating the ills)