Dassera -- Across India

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Dassera -- Across India

Source: Sify Festivals

 

 

Vijayadashami or Dussera, the tenth day of the bright half of Aswin

is celebrated as the day of victory to rejoice about Durga`s triumph

over the demon Mahishasura.

 

In Mysore in the hilltop Chamundi temple, Dussera is a picturesque

festival. The goddess is the Maharaja`s family deity and a procession

of elephants, courtiers and court symbols attracts tourists by the

thousands as it wends its circuituous way to the temple, decorated

splendidly for the festival. With the decline of the royal family of

Mysore however the festival has lost some its traditional lustre.

 

In Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, families arrange dolls

(Bommai Kolu) and artefacts with decorative displays of lamps and

flower. Women traditionally exchange gifts of coconuts, clothes and

sweets.

 

In the northern states Dussera also celebrates the homecoming of Rama

the hero of the epic Ramayana, after his victory over Ravana, the

king of Lanka. In vast open spaces, Ramleela, the folk play with

music and spontaneous dialogues, retelling the story of the life of

Rama, are enacted till the wee hours. Songs are sung in praise of

Rama and people in thousands witness this traditional theatre with

its exaggerated costumes, jewellery, makeup and drama. Larger than

life figures of Ravana and other demons are burnt on cold dark nights

with fireworks lighting up the sky.