HAPPY DUSSEHRA TO ALL OF YOU!!
Dussehra also known as Vijayadashami, Navratri, Dashain (in Nepal- I came to know this through one of my Nepali friends) is one of the most important festivals in India.. The name Dussehra is derived from Sanskrit Dasha-hara literally means removal of ten referring to Lord Ram’s victory over ten-headed demon Ravan. The name Vijayadashami is also derived from the Sanskrit words “Vijaya-dashmi” literally meaning the victory on the dashmi (Dashmi being the tenth lunar day of the Hindu calendar month).
Dussehra is one of the 3-1/2 Muhurtas (most auspicious days). In Maharashtra, kids worship their books. Many parents start the learning activity of their kids from Dussehra. My dad told me that as a kid they used to carry their Writing Slate and Chalk to the temple, wipe it properly then draw the picture of Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge) on it and then worship that. With time Slate and Chalk have been replaced by Notebook and Pencil/Pen but the tradition remains the same.
I also went for Haldi Kumkum at my friend’s place who set up Golu. Golu is the artistic display of dolls on numbered tiers or steps, usually made of wood. The nine steps represent the nine days of Navaratri. To invite goddess to our home they keep Golu and offer different type of food every day during Navaratri. On the tenth and last day, the Golu dolls are symbolically put to sleep and packed the next day to be brought out of the boxes the following year. My daughter got a chance to go for Kanya Poojan at few of my friend’s places. It feels so good when we get to cerebrate these festivals in their original form even if we are living outside India.
Also, exchanging shami tree leaves on the festive day of Dussehra is one ritual which has been followed by people since years. The leaves of the Shami are symbolically equivalent to gold for purposes of pujan. On the day of this auspicious festival, friends and relatives exchange these leaves wishing the other person life long happiness and prosperity. People decorate entrances of their homes and shops with ‘torans’ made up of marigold flowers and ‘apta’ leaves.
How do you celebrate Dussehra? May all your troubles burst away like the fireworks and happiness be multiplied by ten times.
HAPPY DUSSEHRA!!
