THE DUSSEHRA FESTIVAL FALLS DURING THE MOONLIT fortnight, i.e., on the 10th day of the waxing moon in the month of Kwar. Thus, this festival comes some time in September or October, depending on the Tith (as determined by the Hindu calendar). The dates according to the Chirstian calendar can be ascertained from the panchang (almanac). On this day in the Treta (or Trita) Yur, Ram (the 7th incarnation of Vishnu), killed the great demon Ravan, who had abducted Ram's wife Sita to his kingdom of Lanka. Ram, along with his brother Lakshman and follower Hanuman, and an army of monkeys fought a great battle to rescue his lovely wife Sita.
The war against Ravan lasted for ten days and the story of Ram and Sita is recounted with affection and love in the great epic Ramayana. To this day the whole of Ramayana is enacted in dramas staged in huge pandals and maidans, in cities, towns and villages. Beautiful tableaux of actors in costumes of ancient times are taken around the city before they culminate at the venue where the action takes place. After the drama is over the actors of that day's episode return in a procession to the place from where the yatra (journey) had begun. Thus, virtually the entire city can then have the darshan before and after the enactment of each day's drama. These tableaux and enactments are known as Ram Leelas. The whole spectacle is a big mela (fair) and is greatly enjoyed by young and old alike. Ram was a great believer in the powers of goddess Durga, and he prayed to her for nine days before he himself entered the battlefield on the tenth day.
On this day he killed Ravan, Meghnad and Kumbhakaran, and people proclaimed it as the greatest victory of good over evil. The day became known as Dussehra and we still celebrate it with gusto, connecting us with the impotant events of the distant past. Huge effigies of Ravan, his brother Kumbhakaran and his son Meghnad are made, and filled with large quantities of crackers and fireworks. At just about sunset, an actor depicting Ram shoots an arrow from his bow, which hits the Ravan effigy in his navel (where a pot of nectar - the reason for Ravan's invincibility - was stored, and none could kill him unless he knew the secret of drying this nectar by shooting straight into the navel).
This was revealed to Ram by Ravan's own brother Vibhishan, who had changed sides and had become the great adviser to Ram on the affairs of Lanka. Similarly, the other two effigies are set alight. The effigies become a huge display of fireworks for the children and elders to feast their eyes on, and to bring delight to their hearts. A great deal of noise is made as the crackers burst and this provides joy and happiness. Children are given full liberty to buy bows, arrows and all the other items, which abound in the mela. In North India, the grounds where Ram Leelas are held are known as baaras and amateur actors get a chance to exhibit their talent to the full.
In Bengal the occasion is celebrated as the day on which Durga Ma killed the terrible demon Mahishasur. The essence is the same - this festival is celebrated all over India as a symbol of victory of good over evil.
The celebration at home begins ten days earlier, on the first day of Durga puja, in the month of Kwar. A few seeds of jowar (millet) are usually planted on the first day of the puja and watered so that the millet sprouts up into long sheaves by the tenth day and is ready for Dussehra. Dussehra puja is done in the morning. Everyone wears good clothes with zari and gota as on all festive occasions. It is said that if one wears a set of new clothes on this day, one shall get ten sets of new clothes in the coming year. There is no compulsory wearing of the chunri, but there is no taboo on donning it either. As always, chonp on the forehead is a must. The puja is done in the puja room and no specific decoration is required, but if one likes, one can make a chowk on the floor. On this day, all weapons, tools, instruments, pens and pencils are worshipped, because they are the means of fighting injustice, ignorance and evil. These items are placed in front of the gods. A foolscap paper is decorated all around the edges with aipun and a swastik is placed on the top of this paper to remind us of the Aryan origin of the inhabitants of India. The eldest member of the family then writes on this paper:
Uttar ka ghora, Dakshin ka neer
Paschim ka varda, Purav ka cheer
The couplet is about the famous things obtained from the four corners of India and it focuses children's attention onto them. The names of all those assembled are then added onto the paper. It would be better if everyone present signed it, as it is a record of the people present during the puja that year. The month, date and year are added to the paper and it is glued on with atta (dough) near the gods.
A puja thaali containing the roli, aipun and rice in their respective katoris, some batashas, seven paans, some mithai, fruits and a coconut, is tastefully decorated. In some cases, this thaali also has a glass full of wine, whisky or rum placed along with the rest of the prasad. (Dussehra is a feast celebrating victory in war, and so alcohol is allowed even in the puja.) First of all, a teeka is put on the forehead of all the gods and goddesses, and then the youngest girl of the house applies the teeka on the forehead of all the members present. She uses her right-hand thumb, and puts an oblong teeka with a little rice on it for the men, and a small bindi, using the tip of her third finger, on the forehead of the women. Everyone then worships the gods and the weapons, etc., as usual - first with water, then with aipun and roli and, lastly, with rice. If flowers are available, their petals are also showered. The eldest lady member present then picks up the nariyal along with some sheaves of millet, some batashas, a fruit, a little mithai, one paan, a pencil or a pen.
The receiver holds the two hands together and accepts the prasad. It could be practically difficult to hand over the prasad all at once, so it is best to give it in two instalments. Those receiving it touch the prasad to their forehead; they then take some sheaves of the jowar and put them on top of one ear. They can then place the prasad back onto the
Thaali - a little piece of mithai or a batasha should be taken and eaten there and then. Each person then picks up his or her own pen or pencil and individually dips it seven times into the alcohol and then into an inkpot, saying:
Hey Prabhu meri kalam mein aisi tezi ho, jaisi ki is sharaab mein hai.
(O God let my pen gain as much sharpness, as is in this alcohol.)
On Dussehra, usually a big lunch or dinner is arranged for the sons-in-law and the daughters of the family. The daughter brings a teeka, just as is done on Raksha Bandhan or Bhai Dooj but there is no presentation of money by the brothers. This is a day of family get-togethers and feasting. There is no restriction on serving meat and hard drinks. One can enjoy oneself to the fullest extent.
On Dussehra, since all articles that are used for progress and prosperity of mankind are worshipped, all vehicles like cars, trucks, and buses are also worshipped by the individuals using them. A sign of the swastik is made with roli, aipun, and rice on the vehicle which has been cleaned and polished earlier. In all army, polce and paramilitary organizations, the drivers clean and polish their vehicles with great solemnity and patience, and then perform the puja of the vehicles.
The Dussehra festival is one of the greatest and most impotant festivals in India and with it comes winter.
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