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DUSHEHRA

The Victory of Good over Evil
This Hindu festival, celebrated on the tenth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Ashvin, celebrates the victory of good over evil. Effigies of the demon king Ravana, his son Meghanatha, and his brother Kumbhakarna, are burnt amidst shouts of joy.
Dushehra, also called Vijayadashmi, is celebrated on the tenth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Ashvina and culminates the nine-day Navaratri celebrations. It commemorates the death of the evilking Ravana along with his son Meghanatha and brother Kumbhakarna, at the hands of Rama. According to the Ramayana, Rama was the exiled prince of Ayodhya. While living in the forest, his wife Sita was abducted by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. Rama, assisted by an army of monkeys, attacked Lanka to rescue her. A fierce battleensued between the two armies for many days as it was proving very difficult to beat the mighty Ravana. Rama then prayed for nine days to nine different aspects of Durga (see also Navaratri) and accumulated enough strength to defeat Ravana.
The Hindus relive the defeat of Ravana during Dushehra. Ramalila, adance-drama narrating the story of Rama`s life according to the Ramayana, is enacted for the nine days preceding Dushehra. Almostevery area stages its own version of the play, preparations for which take place many days in advance.Traditionally only men participated in the Ramalila, enacting the women`s characters also. Today however, women in urban areas also participate.
The tenth day marks the end of these Ramalilas when the final act of this drama is staged. Huge effigies, sometimes almost 100 ft high, of Ravana, his son and brother are made many days in advance, using coloured paper and hay. They are also stuffed with crackers. At the appointed time, a person dressed as Rama, shoots flaming arrows at the effigies which start to burn. Shouts of `Jai Shri Rama` in Kulu Dushehra or `Hail Lord Rama` resound.
Kulu, a small town in HimachalPradesh, is witness to unique Dushehra celebrations. Since the times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Dushehra celebrations here begin three days after they do in the rest of India. This was so because the Maharaja expected all the kings under his tutelage to be present at Kulu for the celebration. The rulers with their retinues would leave their kingdoms immediately after the celebrations there ended and speed back to Kulu. Since it took them three days to reach, this practice was established and has continued eversince.
Instead of burning the effigies of the demons, five animals - a rooster, afish, a lamb, a crab, and a buffalo - are sacrificed here and a pile of wood is burnt seven days later to symbolise the victory of good over evil.
Village deities from all around are brought to Kulu in palanquis for this celebration. The procession is led by musicians and Nati dancers. It is believed that many gods and goddesses reside in and around Kulu and they all come together during this annual reunion. A large fair is also organised on this occasion. This is a good opportunity for people to buy and stock their provisions for the harsh winter ahead, as most places become inaccessible due to snow within a month of the festival.
In Mysore, Dushehra is a royal celebration. It celebrates Durga`s triumph over the demon Mahishasura (see also Durga Puja). The demon is believed to come from the city of Mysore and therefore it is the most affected by this event. Celebrations to mark his death are observed on agrand scale. The venue is the Chamundi hill, at the temple of Durga who is also the family deity of the royal family. A regal procession of decoratedelephants, courtiers and court symbols wends its circuitous way to the temple, decorated splendidly for the festival. On reaching the temple, prayers are offered to the goddess. This event attracts many tourists from India and abroad. With the decline of the royal family of Mysore however, this festival has lost some of its traditional luster.

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