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When is Dussehra 2020? History and importance, rituals, facts and all you need to know

Dussehra or Vijayadashami is an important Hindu festival which signifies the victory of good over evil. This annual festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervour by Hindus across the world on the tenth day of the Navratras , which falls on the tenth day of Ashwin or Kartik months as per the Hindu calendar. This year Dussehra will be celebrated on October 25, 2020 (Sunday).



History and Importance

While Dussehra is called by different names across India-- Durga Puja or Vijayadashami in the East and North-east, Dussehra in Northern and Western states-- the essence of the festival remains the same i.e. the Dharma (good) prevailing over Adharma (evil). Durga Puja or Vijayadashmi celebrates Maa Durga's victory over demon Mahishasura to protect darma. Whereas, the story behind Dussehra signifies Lord Rama 's victory over Ravana. The day also marks the end of Ram lila-- a brief retelling of Rama, Sita and Laxman story. On Dussehra, towering effigies of demon King Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghanad (symbolic of evil) are burnt down with fireworks thus reminding onlookers that no matter what, Good always wins over Evil.

It was on the same day that Arjuna annihilated the Kuru clan, including great warriors like Bhisma, Drona, Karna, Ashwathama, on his own in the battle of Kurushetra in the Hindu epic Mahabharata.

Rituals, facts and all you need to know about Dussehra

As mentioned earlier, Dussehra or Vijayadashami has various stories behind it and so the festival is celebrated in different ways across India. For instance, in most states in North or Western India, Dussehra is celebrated in honour of Lord Rama. Ram lilas, which are re-enactment of musical plays based on the Ramcharitramanas are performed leading to Dussehra when large effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghanad are burnt down.

On the contrary, in many places in South India, the festival is celebrated in honour of Maa Saraswati-- Hindu Goddess of knowledge and arts. On this day, people clean and worship their instruments of livelihood and seek Goddess Saraswati's blessings. In Western India, especially in Gujarat, people observe fasts and worship the nine avatars of Goddess Durga for the nine days of Navratras leading to Dussehra or Vijayadashami. Dandiya and Garba are played during these nine days. On the tenth day, Maa Durga's idol is immersed in water signifying her return to Mount Kailash with Lord Shiva. Meanwhile, in West Bengal Durga Puja leads to Vijayadashami, also called Bijoy Dashomi , wherein clay statues of Maa Durga are immersed in water bodies thus bidding a farewell to the Goddess. Right before the immersion, Bengali women indulge in Sindoor Khela wherein they apply vermilion (sindoor) on each other and wear red clothing-- ths signifying Maa Durga's victory.

While the festival is known by different names, its essence remains the same-- which is the victory of good over evil; establishment of Dharma over Adharma. At a spiritual level, Dussehra or Vijayadashmi also signifies the end of negativity and evil within us (biases, prejudices, stereotypes) and marks a fresh new beginning.

Here's wishing a happy Dussehra to our readers!

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