Vijayadashami also known as Dasahara, Dusshera, Dasara, Dussehra or Dashain is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navratri every year. It is observed on the tenth day in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin or Kartik, the sixth and seventh month of the Hindu Luni-Solar Calendar respectively , which typically falls in the Gregorian months of September and October….
Vijayadashami is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of South Asia.In the southern, eastern and northeastern states of India, Vijayadashami marks the end of Durga Puja, remembering goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura to restore and protect dharma.In the northern and western states, the festival is synonymously called Dussehra (also spelled Dasara, Dashahara). In these regions, it marks the end of “Ramlila” and remembers God Rama’s victory over the Ravan. On the very same occasion; Arjuna alone decimated 1 lakh+ soldiers & defeated all Kuru warriors including Bhishma, Drona, Ashwatthama, Karna, Kripa etc.- there by significantly quoting the natural example of victory of good (Dharma) over evil (Adharma). Alternatively it marks a reverence for one of the aspects of goddess Devi such as Durga or Saraswati.
Vijayadashami celebrations include processions to a river or ocean front that carry clay statues of Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya, accompanied by music and chants, after which the images are immersed into the water for dissolution and a goodbye. Elsewhere, on Dasara, the towering effigies of Ravan symbolizing the evil are burnt with fireworks marking evil’s destruction. The festival also starts the preparation for one of the most important and widely celebrated Diwali, the festival of lights, which is celebrated twenty days after the Vijayadashami.
Ramayan
Table of Contents
Ravan kidnapped Sita. Raam requested Ravan to release her, but Ravan refused; the situation escalated and lead to the war. After performing severe penance for ten thousand years, Ravan received a boon from the creator-god Brahma: he could henceforth not be killed by gods, demons, or spirits. He is portrayed as a powerful demon king who disturbs the penances of rishis. Lord Vishnu incarnates as the human Rama to defeat and kill him, thus circumventing the boon given by Lord Brahma. A deadly and fierceful battle takes place between Raam and Ravan in which Raam kills Ravan and ends the evil rule. Ravan has ten heads. The killing of the one who has ten heads is called Dusshera. Finally, Dharma was established on the Earth because of Raam’s victory over Ravan. Thus this festival is celebrated reminding the victories of Good over Evil.
Mahabharat
In the Mahabharat,the Pandavs are known to have spent their thirteenth year of exile in disguise in the kingdom of Virat. Before going to Virata, they are known to have hung their celestial weapons in a Shami tree for safekeeping for a year. Bhima kills Kichak. Hearing about the death of Kichak, Duryodhan surmises that the Pandavs were hiding in Matsya. A host of Kaurav warriors attacks Virat, presumably to steal their cattle, but in reality, desiring to pierce the Pandavs’ veil of anonymity. Full of bravado, Virat’s son Uttar attempts to take on the army by himself while the rest of the Matsya army has been lured away to fight Susharma and the Trigartas. As suggested by Draupadi, Uttar takes Brihannala with him, as his charioteer. When he sees the Kaurav army, Uttar loses his nerve and attempts to flee. Then Arjun reveals his identity and those of his brothers’. Arjun takes Uttar to the tree where the Pandavs hid their weapons.
Arjun picks up his Gandiva after worshipping the tree, as the Shami tree safeguarded the Pandavs’ weapons for that complete year. Arjun reties the thread of Gandiva, simply drags and releases it – which produces a terrible twang. At the same point of time, Kaurav warriors were eagerly waiting to spot Pandavs. Dispute chats took place between Karn and Dron. Karn told Duryodhan that he would easily defeat Arjun and doesn’t feel threatened by Drona’s words since Drona was intentionally praising Arjuna, as Arjuna was a favorite student of Drona. Ashwatthama supports his father by praising Arjun. Then Arjun arrives on the battlefield. . Eager to defend the land that had given him refuge, Arjun engaged the legion of Kaurav warriors. The battle starts between Arjun and the entire Kuru Army. All the warriors including Bhishma, Dron, Karn, Kripa and Ashwathama together attacked Arjun to kill him, but Arjun defeated all of them multiple times.. During the battle, Arjun also killed Sangramjit, the foster brother of Karn, and instead of taking revenge for his brother, Karn fled in order to save his life from Arjun. Karn tried to fly away from Arjuna but he could not since Arjun invoked Sammohanaastra which made the entire army fall asleep.. This is the war in which Arjun proved that he was the best archer in the world at his time. In this way Arjuna alone defeated the entire Kuru army consisting of ten thousands of soldiers, Maharathis : Bhishma, Drona, Karna ; Atirathis : Kripa, Ashwatthama. One of the names of Arjuna is Vijaya – ever victorious. This incident took place on the same day in which Lord Raam killed Ravan. As it was Arjun’s day, the day also became popular as “VIJAYA DASHAMI”.