DASARA: what is it? ()

[Guest guest]

Durga Puja, Dussehra or Dasera Festival Celebration

*Dasara* is celebrated allover India with a lot of fanfare and religious

fervor. A religious as well as a social festival, *Dasara* is an occasion

for pujas and festivities like music, dance and cultural programmes. In

Southern India, especially in TamilNadu, *Dasara* is celebrated as

Navarathiri.

 

Dussehra, Dasera, Durga Puja or Vijayadasami is celebrated to memorialize

Rama's victory over *demon* king Ravana who abducted the Rama's wife Sita.

This festival symbolizes a moral victory, as good prevails over evil.

 

In Delhi, in Ramlila maidan (ground) effigies of Ravana, Kumbakharna, his

brother and son Meghnad are set ablaze by shooting arrows of fire at their

effigies by a person who acts as Rama by putting on robes supposedly worn by

him. He is accompanied to the venue by two persons who pose as Sita and

Rama's brother, Lakshmana.

 

The festival is celebrated as Durga Puja in West Bengal. The celebrations

last for ten days. Durga idols are kept in pandals erected to facilitate

worship of the goddess during this period. Goddess Durga personifies Shakti

(life force). She was supposed to have slain the near invincible *demon*,

Mahisasura. These idols are immersed in ponds or lakes on the ninth day.

Goddess Durga's vehicle is the lion.

 

In Tamil Nadu state, Navaratri (nine nights) celebrations take place.

Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth) is worshipped for the first three days,

followed by Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge) for three more days.

And the last three days are dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga. In

Hindu homes the eighth day or NAVAMI prayers are offered to Goddess

Saraswathi the Goddess of learning, seeking knowledge.

 

Books of children and youngsters as well as musical instruments are placed

before the Goddess on that day and pujas performed.

 

 

Goddess Durga is a manifestation of Devi, the mother goddess. The

*demon*king, Mahisasura, became a threat to both mankind and Gods

alike, thanks to

a boon granted by Shiva who made him invincible. Only a woman could kill him

according to a clause of the boon. So all the gods and goddesses united to

form a supreme being in feminine form. This goddess was Durga. She

vanquished Mahisasura. She protects mankind from all evil. That is why she

has several hands, which brandish different weapons. Her vehicle is the

tiger. She is also an incarnation of Parvati, consort of Lord

Shiva.According to Hindu mythology, a very powerful Asura-*demon* king

Mahishasuran prayed to the almighty and asked for a boon - that his death

should at the hands of a woman and by no other human being or any form of

living being.

 

On being granted his wish, he started inflicting atrocities on all human

beings on the earth. He considered himself to be immortal as he thought that

it was impossible for a woman or any female form of a human being to be

powerful enough to kill him.

 

When his cruelty became unbearable, people prayed to Sakthi the consort of

Lord Shiva to save them from the *demon* and to provide them with salvation.

Sakthi then took the form of Durga and slayed the *demon*.

A very popular Sloka on Goddess Durga is:

 

Ayigiri Nandhini Nandhitha Medhini

Viswa Vinodhini Nandhanuthe

Girivara Vindhya Sirodhini Vasini

Vishnu Vilasini Jishnunuthe

Baghavathy He Sithi Kanda Kudumbhini

Boori Kudumbhini Boorikruthe

Jaya Jaya He Mahishasura Mardhini

Ramyaka Bardhini Sailasuthe.

 

The tenth day i.e. DASAMI is considered a day of victory as it signifies the

day Sakthi slays the *demon*. It signifies the victory of good over evil.

VIJAYADASAMI is a day to begin new ventures, be it business or education

etc. as it is an auspicious day and assures one of success.

*Source(s):*

 

-various sources and personal

experience<http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:gUxeUvDDRVYJ:answers..a\

u/question/index%253Fqid%253D20070401075120AA6ciki+DASARA+DEMON & hl=en & ct=clnk & cd\

=6 & gl=us>

 

 

--

http://old.punx.com/

anti-racist-action

fight fascism, racism, sexism and homophobia

http://www.antiracistaction.com/