Tuesday 12 October 2010

Dussehra


On Sunday, Anders, Dexter and I went to Carlton Hill as the Hindu community was celebrating Dussehera

Dussehra epitomizes the triumph of good over evil. This is the auspicious day when the great Lord Rama killed Ravana and made Lanka free from the dominance of Asuras. The day when we burn the effigy of Ravana along with his subordinates Meghanad and Kumbhkarana. Lord Rama fought a battle of ten days with Ravana, who had abducted his wife Sita. With his Monkey Army called Vanar Sena, Shri Rama defeated the Ravana Sena and handed over the rule to Bhibhishan. Exact twenty days after the end of the war, Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshman returned to Ayodhya. It is the same day on which the festival of Diwali is celebrated. The significance of Dussehra in context of Diwali is thus relevant.

Since then the effigies of Ten faced Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhkarana are burnt. Usually, ten days before Dussehra, the whole Ramayana is enacted in various parts of India as well as in many countries where people of Hindu community are living. This is popularly known as Ram Lila. On the tenth day, that is, Dussehra the whole Rama-Ravana war is enacted and at last the actor playing the role of Lord Rama burns the effigy with the stroke of his arrow.

It is also a day celebrated in India with great fervor. People, exchange sweets, especially, jalebis among their loved ones. The day also marks the advent of festive days till Diwali as people start decorating their homes and distributing gifts to friends and family.









Above all taken on i-phone







3 comments:

  1. Wow.

    You see the coolest stuff.

    Thanks for linking up! really cool post. I'll have to pass this link along to Vidya from the ACoLab...I think she was mentioning the same celebration.

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  2. I missed celebrating in India this year - thanks for making up for it on your blog.

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  3. seriously, you are ALWAYS doing fun stuff! what a fun life you live :) Love all these photos and thanks for sharing, i had never heard of this before, it was very interesting to learn about!

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