DASSERA
The festival Dassera comes from the beginning of AASWAYUJA MASA and celebrations take place all over India for ten days ends up with VIJAYA DASAMI, the tenth day. In West Bengal state the celebrations go with the name DEVI NAVARATRULU erecting temporary thatched pendals for placing temporary idols of Kali Mata of different sizes and postures depicting Shakti /Durga/ Kali role in the protection of mankind. All the ten days pooja/prayers and celebrations take place with fervor and festivity. Colorful decorations, lighting and what not in grandeur scale of competition conduct prayers with all Vedic hymns. Though all over India it is celebrated West Bengal dominates the scene.
In South India it is a tourist attraction in Mysore of Karnataka state the festival celebrated culminating in a colorful procession of beautifully decorated fleet of elephants and horses of erstwhile Mysore Maharaja and their practice of celebrations with well dressed in kingdom style continued even today by the state government witnessed by thousands of people from different parts of the country.
During these ten days people in colorful fancy dresses depicting epical incarnation of different gods and their role in protecting the mankind from the demons and devils. In south India students and teachers also go round the villages with bows and arrows celebrating the victory in Kurukshetra and people offer them sweets and other eatables. It is also a practice to arrange dolls and icons in rows at home inviting neighbors and sharing their joy. VIJAYA DASAMI DAY is considered as mythological story goes a victory day of Pandavas and thus the day celebrated as Ayudha Pooja conducting prayers to the weapons and agricultural and other implements.On completion of nine days performing pooja, the idols will be taken with all festivity, drums, trumpets to a river or tank or sea and it will be immersed in water.
Shakthi is considered as first source of power and energy in this universe and is also called AADI SHAKTHI. In many place Durga Mata is shown in her angry mood while killing Mahishasura, the devil in the form of he-buffalo. In Tirupathi also Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara take place during these Dassera ten days. Lakhs of people throng the abode of Venkateswara / Balaji and conduct prayers with all fervor.
This year Dassera begins on 27th September and Vijay Dasami falls on 4th October. Though at sunrise Dasami is on 5th October, for celebrating Vijay Dasami thithi shall spread to afternoon and star Sravana be there on that day. So the festival celebration shall take place on 4th itself.
All over India celebrates Dassera and you too. Enjoy festival.
WE WISH YOU A HAPPY DASSERA |
