Royal Dussehra procession at Jaipur's City Palace being held

24 October, 2012

Vijayadashami or Dussehra is one of the most important Hindu festivals celebrated in various forms across India as well as in the neighboring countries of Nepal and Bangladesh. The day marks the victory of Goddess Durga over demon Mahishasur as well as the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana.

CELEBRATED on the tenth day of the Hindu autumn lunar month of Ashvin, which falls in September or October of the Western calendar, this year, Dussehra is being celebrated on October 24.

In Jaipur, Dussehra festival is being celebrated today by burning giant size effigies of demon king Ravana at night at various public places. Also, a Dussehra Fair, one of the largest fairs in Jaipur, has been organised.

On Dussehra, Jaipur Shopping Festival - an initiative of Rajasthan Patrika and organised by International Fairs and Festivals - is at its peak with organization of the Royal Dussehra Procession at Jaipur’s City Palace. The month-long festival in Jaipur was inaugurated by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot amid much fanfare on October 16, 2012.

The auspicious rallies of Lord Shri Ram and vanar sena with tableaux related to life of the Lord will be held at evening time. The giant size effigies of Ravan will be burned with fire, crackers and fireworks late evening.

In many households of Jaipur, a Yagna is being performed with Sandhya Vandana calld Dakshina Agni by chanting Maha Surya Mantras to keep the heart, head and stomach in balance in the absence of adequate sunlight in the coming winter months.

Jaipurites believe that people should try to gain victory over the ten vices of mind on this day, just like Lord Shri Ram got victory over demon king Ravan with ten heads. It is said that Dussehra is derived from Sanskrit 'Dasha-hara' meaning 'remover of vices and bad fate' or remover of ten heads of Ravana within human beings.

Here is my acrostic on DUSSEHRA.

D: Day of

U: Ultimate victory of goodness over ten

S: Subtle evils of lust, mind's vagaries,

S: Selfishness or conceit, jealousy,

E: Ego, delusion

H: Hard-headedness, unwiseness,

R: Rapacity or greed, and

A: Anger represented by Demon King Ravana's ten head.