Dushehra celebrates the victory of good over evil as depicted in Ramayan. According to
the epic Ramayan, Lord Ram Chandra was the crown prince of Ayodhya who was
banished to the forest for 14 years through trickery by his step-mother who
wanted the throne for her own son Bharat. Ram's wife Seeta and brother Lakshman
accompanied him on his exile. While living in the forest, Seeta was abducted by
Ravan, the demon king of Lanka. Ram prayed to Goddes Durga also knwn as Shakti
(power) before attacking Lanka to rescue Seeta. Ram and Lakshman lead an army of
monkeys and other animals while Ravan had a well trained powerful army. A fierce
battle ensued between the two armies for 10 days. Ravan had a boon that enabled
him to grow back a head after it was cut off, so it was proving very difficult
to beat the mighty Ravan. Finally Ram was able to kill Ravan by shooting an
arrow at a vulnerable part of his body. The name Dushehra comes from the 10
heads of Ravan (dus =10, hara = stolen / conquered). The scenes from the
Ramayan are enacted in a folk art form called Ram Lila (Miracles of Ram). The
whole story of Ram's life is acted out in 10 days. The tenth day marks the end
of Ram Lila when the final act of this drama is staged. Huge effigies, sometimes
almost 100 ft high, of Ravan, his son Meghnad and his brother Kumbhkaran are
made many days in advance. They are stuffed with hay and fire crackers. At the
appointed time, a person dressed as Ram, shoots flaming arrows at the effigies,
which start to burn. Shouts of 'Jai Shri Ram’ or 'Hail Lord Ram' resound. People
compete with each other to make bigger and better effigies and as they burn, the
hidden fireworks begin.
This tenth day is also known as ‘Vijay Dashmi’
since ‘Vijay’ means victory and ‘Dashmi’ means the tenth. Dushehra is celebrated
with a great deal of enthusiasm over a period of ten days and is an occasion of
revelry for all. It is a time for new clothes, fun, dance, exhibitions and a
good time. It is a time when people come together with their families and
friends. On Vijay Dashmi everyone celebrates the victory of Ram over Ravan, of
good triumphing over evil.
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