Dussehra'2013

Dussehra is a mojor Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. On this day, Lord Rama defeated and killed the demon, “Ravan”.

Now, I’m telling you a brief history about this famous event:

It’s said that in ancient times there was a great King known as Lord “Rama”. During his absence from the country with his wife Goddess “Sita” and younger brother “Laxman” used to live in forest. But one day a demon king  ”Ravan” when Lord Rama & brother were not at home, by forge means, took away Sita with him. This made Lord Rama angry and in order to kill that demon, he attacked Ravan. After a long bettle, finally Lord Rama save Goddess Sita. And the day he killed Ravan is marked as DUSSHRA.

From every that day, Dussehra is being celebrated with great devotion, happiness and joy and among major Hindu Festivals.

Dussehra is celebrated every year on 10^th day of the bright half (Shukla paksha) of the month of ashvin and the date would be acoording to Hindu calendar.

During this day, the replica of demon King Ravan is made and then burnt, so ad to signify his destruction. All over of the country, RamLeela ( a famous play depicting the Ramayana Story) is performed. People generally make and distribute several types of sweets and other stuff as this day is considered very auspicious and people also buy different types of electronic or new products during this day.

Children love Dussehra & Diwali (since the childhood its is also a favorite festival of mine) because of many reasons like holidays(major one), sweets, gifts, new cloths etc. and the most important reason they can do unlimited fun and frolic and they simply love it when wicked Ravana is burnt up. Once my brother(when he was a kid) asked me, "Why do they have to burn Ravana every year?" For a moment he had me stumped. We have to burn Ravana every year because  he is the symbol of evil in the world. It needs to be cleared out every year. Just as we clean our houses every day. We need to clean our hearts  and minds once a year at least. Then you can truly enjoy a beautiful Diwali full of a joy and new hopes and wishes.

For this cleansing we celebrate Navratras before Dussehra every year. Nine days of fasting and pooja.

How many people know What are these Navratras. These are nine days where we celebrate the killing of demons by our goddesses. The only difference is that these demons are  not outside but within us. They complicate our lives, bring misery, spoil relationships, and breed unhappiness. Who are these demons? They are anger, greed, ego, lies, confusion, desires, selfishness, etc. After we have killed all these demons within us we become  pure and clean enough  to enjoy the destruction of evil as Ravana is put to the flames. During Navratras  we also pray to the goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati and Parvati. To give us knowledge,wisdom, peace and bliss.

These nine days are celebrated differently in different states of India. In North India we celebrate with Fasting, Pooja and worshipping little girls 'Kanjak'. In western India it is with Garba or dancing. In Bengal, beautiful Idols of the Devi are put up and Durga pooja is performed. Then these are immersed in water on the 10th day. In some states Ram Leela is Enacted from the Ramayana with Ram killing Ravana on the tenth day.

So people have fun and celebrate this good period of the year, but remember  its significance. Ravana signifies the demons who live within us. Every time we do something wrong or bad, every time we are wicked and take someone else's things we are enacting a Ravana like act. Remember Ravana was a highly educated and intelligent man.So just Intelligence and good education is not enough to make us good people. For that you have to cleanse your heart of the bad thoughts in your mind. You will be surprised how good you feel and how happy your life will be. Actually we don't realize it but all our troubles are mostly created by our wrong thoughts  and desires and deeds. Once you follow the rules laid down by Mother Nature and elders you will find life becomes very easy,simple and good.