On this day in the Treta Yug, Ram (8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu), killed the great demon Ravan who had abducted Ram's wife Sita to his kingdom of Lanka. Ram, along, with his brother Lakshman follower Hanuman, and an army of monkeys fought a great battle to rescue his lovely wife Sita. The war against Ravan lasted for ten days and the story is recounted with affection and love in the great epic Ramayana.
Kautsa, the young son of Devdatt, a Brahmin, was living in the city of Paithan. After learning under the guidance of the rishi Varatantu, he insisted on his guru accepting a present, or "gurudakshina". But the guru said, "Kautsa, to give 'dakshina' in return for the gift of wisdom is not proper. The disciple has become learned, this makes the guru happy, and this is the real gurudakshina." Kautsa was not satisfied. He still felt it was his duty to give his guru something. Finally the guru said, "Alright, you insist on giving me dakshina, so give me 14 crore gold coins, one crore for each of the 14 sciences I have taught you." Kautsa went to king Raghu. Raghuraja was an ancestor of Rama, famous for his generosity.
But just at that time he had emptied all his coffers on the Brahmins, after performing the Vishvajit sacrifice. He asked Kautsa to give him three days' time. He immediately left to get the gold coins from Indra. Indra summoned Kuber, the god of wealth. Indra told Kuber, "Make a rain of gold coins fall on the "shanu" and "apati" trees round Raghuraja's city of Ayodhya." The rain of coins began to fall. King Raghu gave all the coins to Kautsa, and Kautsa hastened to offer the coins to Varatantu Rishi. But the guru had asked only 14 crores, so he gave the rest to Kautsa. But Kautsa was not interested in money. In those days honour was considered more valuable than wealth. He asked the king to take the remaining coins back. But the king would not. Finally Kautsa lavishly distributed the coins to the people of Ayodhya city. This happened on the day of Dussehra. In remembrance of this event the custom is kept of looting the leaves of the "apati" trees, and people present each other these leaves as "sone" (gold).
In ancient times kings used the feast of Dussehra to cross the frontier and fight against their neighbouring kingdoms. This border crossing is known as "seema ollanghan". Dussehra marked the beginning of the war season.
This was also the day to worship the weapons. According to legend, Pandav went to dwell in the forest. On the way he hid his weapons in the hole of a "shami" tree. After one year he returned from the forest and on Dussehra day he took again his weapons and worshipped the shami tree and the weapons. Hence the custom of worshipping weapons on this feast started.
REGIONAL CELEBRATIONS
In North India it is Ram Lila that consists of plays, recitations and music that recall the life of the legendary hero, Ram. In Delhi, many amateur troupes perform plays based on this epic story. On the tenth day, an elaborate procession leads to the Ram Lila grounds where immense cracker-stuffed effigies of the demon Ravana and his brother and son explode to the cheers of thousands of spectators. In Kullu, the celebrations have a different flavor. Against the backdrop of snow-covered mountains, villages dressed in their colorful best, assemble to form procession of local deities while pipes and drums make music.
Kullu Dussehra
Kullu Dussehrais a unique Dussehra celebration. Since the times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Dussehra 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 Kullu for the celebration. The rulers with their retinues would leave their kingdoms immediately after the celebrations there ended and speed back to Kullu. Since it took them three days to reach, this practice was established and has continued ever since. On the first day of Dussehra, the idol of Raghunathji, saddled on a splendid rath (chariot), and attended by village gods mounted in decorated palanquins, is pulled by means of big ropes from its traditional permanent place in a meadow, known as Dholpur maidan to another spot in the same meadow. The pulling of ropes is regarded as highly auspicious by the local people who, together with the gods, form a huge procession. Before Raghunathji's chariot is pulled, the descendants of the Kullu raja, dressed in royal costumes and priests re-enact a traditional ceremony and circle the rath.
On the following days, the gods are invoked and paraded in the mornings and evenings. On the penultimate day, a devta durbar (Council of Gods) is held, with Raghunathji presiding. On the last day of the festival, the chariot of Raghunathji is drawn amidst fanfare to the banks of the river Beas. Here a pile of wood and grass is set on fire to symbolize the burning of Lanka - the land where the evil Ravana dwelt. The ceremony is rounded off by the sacrifice of five chosen animals - a crab, a cock, a fish, a buffalo and a male goat. The gods then depart decorously, while the people immerse themselves in revelry. Lugri, the traditional Kullu drink, flows by the gallon.
In Tamil Nadu, the first three days are dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and prosperity, the next three days to Saraswati, Goddess of learning and arts and the last three days to Shakti (Durga). In Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, families arrange dolls (Bommai Kolu) on artificially constructed steps and prepare an elaborate spread of lamps and flowers. Women traditionally exchange gifts of coconuts, clothes and sweets. Scenes culled from various stories in the epics and puranas are displayed. Traditionally women and children, and now men too visit their friends and acquaintances during these 10 days. They sing songs, tell stories that the dolls might depict and eat a dish made out of chickpeas (choondal). The whole set up is put up on the very first day of Navaratri. After the Saraswati pooja on the ninth day, the whole set up is taken down on Vijayadashmi. Vijayadasami is an auspicious occasion for children to commence their education in classical dance and music, and to pay homage to their teachers.
Mysore Dussehra
Mysore Dussehra is celebrated with a pomp and pageantry reminiscent of medieval times. In Bengal and other parts of eastern India, Dussehra is celebrated as Durga Puja. Devotees wear new clothes and entertain with music, dance and drama. On the last day, images of the warrior goddess are taken out in procession immersed in a river or the sea. In the south, the festival is celebrated as Navaratri. Dolls and trinkets are artistically arranged in tiers by young girls. Friends and relatives visit each other's homes to exchange greetings.
PLACES TO VISIT
Hinduism being the most widely followed religion of the country, all the Hindu festivals are celebrated all over the country. However, few places celebrate some of the festivals with great joy and special festivities. To witness Dussehra, therefore, Delhi, Haryana, Kullu and Mysore would be more suggestible sites where the Dussehra festival is celebrated with special festiviti
