Dussehra

Dussehra 2017 Saturday, September 30

Dussehra is celebrated every year and we burn Raavan to celebrate the victory of Lord Rama. Dussehra also known as Dashahara , Dashain (in Nepal), Durgotsav , Navaratri of Vijayadashmi is one of the gratest Hindu Festivals celebrated on the tenth day of Navratri and is celebrated in a variety of ways in india and the neighboring countries where Hinduism is followed to Dussehra also known as VijayaDashami.

Some of the rituals and pujas performed on Vijayadashami are Shami Puja, Aparajita Puja and Seema Avalanghan.

Dussehra Puja Date & Timing:

Dashami Tithi Begins = 23:49 on 29 September 2017  Dashami Tithi Ends = 01:35 on 1 Octomber 2017

Vijay Muhurat = 13:10 to 13:58                               Duration = 0 Hours 47 Mins

Aparahna Puja Time = 12:23 to 14:45                  Duration = 2 Hours 21 Mins

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Dussehra word is derived from two word ‘Dus’ meaning ten and ‘Hara’ meaning defeat symbolizing the slaying of the ten headed demon king Ravana by Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is also celebrated for the victory of Goddess Durga over the buffale demon Mahishasura.

History of Dussehra 

Triumph Of Lord Rama Over Ravana :

The celebration of Dussehra is rooted in the Hindu epic of Ramayana, according to which, Lord Rama, the eight incarnation of Lord Vishnu, killed the ten-headed demon Ravana, in Satyug. Ravan had abducted Rama’s wife Sita. Rama, along with his brother Lakshmana, follower Hanuman and an army of monkeys, headed towards Lanka (Ravana’s Kingdom) in order to enter a war with Ravana and rescue Sita.

On his way to Lanka, Rama organized Chandi Pooja to seek the blessings of Ma Durga, the Goddess of power and courage. After seeking her blessings, Lord Rama defeated and killed Ravana, with the help of his fellow beings. Therefore, the day was celebrated to commemorate the victory of Rama over Ravana, which later came to be known as Vijayadashmi or Dussehra.

Assassination Of Mahishasura By Goddess Durga :

Another legend is connected to Goddess Durga. According to the story, all the Gods in swarglok and the living beings on earth were upset by the tyranny of the demon Mahishasura, because he had acquired invincible power to conquer the world. He was undefeatable, even by the mighty deities – Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Therefore, all the Gods decided to create a power, which would destroy Mahishasura, freed the living beings from his despotism and restore the swaglok to them.

This gave rise to the creation of Goddess Durga, an avatar of Ma Shakti. With the weapons given to her by the Gods, Goddess Durga went to fight against Mahishasura. She defeated the demon, successfully, and restored the swaglok to the Gods, as promised. Her victory is celebrated as Vijayadashmi or Dusshera, by many people following Hinduism.

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