These nine days are called Navaratri.

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Dassara is one of our most important festivals. There are many stories about it. Rama killed Ravana on the day of Dassara.Again, you have read of the Kauravas and Pandavas.The Kauravas drove the Pandavas into the forest where they stayed for fourteen years. The Pandavas returned to Hastinapura, on this day. Here is yet another story about Dassara. Long, long ago there lived an Asura called Mahisha.He did tapas and God gave him a boon.As a result of the boon, no man could kill him. So he turned wicked. He troubled rishis, gods and men.

 

At last Goddess Kaali fought him and killed him. People became happy once more. We celebrate this event during Dassara.What do these stories point out? Truth and goodness prevail over untruth and evil in the end. We arrange small images of gods, animals and fruits at home neatly on wooden tiers and stands. The idea is, God is in everything.We decorate the room. In the evening, girls sing before the images of gods. On the ninth day children worship their books as Saraswati or the Goddess of learning.

 

These nine days are called Navaratri.Dassara is on the tenth day of the Aswin month. That day is also called Vijaya Dasami.Vijaya means success or victory. Dasami means the tenth day. It is a very auspicious day to begin any good work.Children start their schooling on that day. Workers offer flowers' to their machines and tools. It is a day of good luck for everyone. We seek God's blessing on that day.