Dasara Navaratri also known as Vijayadashami (also written Dussehra) and Dashain (in Nepali), is a festival celebrated in varying forms across Nepal and India. Navaratri means “nine nights”, which we must use to seek blessings from the nine planets and control our openings. It is celebrated on the tenth day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu autumn month of Ashvin or Ashwayuja, and is the grand culmination of the 10-day annual Navaratri festival.
However, all festivities celebrate the victory of the forces of good over evil. It is considered an auspicious day to begin new ventures in life.
Vijayadashami (Bengali: বিজয়াদশমী, Kannada: ವಿಜಯದಶಮಿ, Malayalam: വിജയദശമി, Marathi: विजयादशमी, Nepali :विजया दशमी, Tamil: விஜயதசமி, Telugu: విజయదశమి) also known as Dasara (also written Dussehra) Bengali: দশেরা, Kannada: ದಸರ, Malayalam: ദസറ, Marathi: दसरा, Telugu: దసరా) and Dashain (in Nepali), is a festival celebrated in varying forms across Nepal and India. It is celebrated on the tenth day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu autumn month of Ashvin or Ashwayuja, and is the grand culmination of the 10-day annual Navaratri (Sanskrit: नवरात्रि, ‘nine nights’) festival. It is the largest festival of Nepal, and celebrated by Hindu and non-Hindu Nepalis alike.
The underlying tradition and mode of celebration vary vastly by region. However, all festivities celebrate the victory of the forces of good over evil. It is considered an auspicious day to begin new ventures in life.
Significance
All the people of Nepal, as well as those of the contiguous Indian hill state of Uttarakhand, consider it an important festival.
In Southern India, Eastern India and Western India, the festival of Navaratri, which culminates with Vijayadashami, commemorates the legend in which the Goddess Durga, also known as Chamundeshwari or Mahishasura Mardini, vanquishes the demon Mahishasura. This event is said to have taken place in the vicinity of the present day city of Mysore in Karnataka.
In Northern India, the same 10-day festival commemorates the victory of Rama, prince of Ayodhya in present-day Uttar Pradesh, over Ravana, the ruler of Lanka.
Legend of the Shami Tree
A lesser-known tradition associated with the festival relates to the Mahabharata, specifically to the one-year exile period the Pandavas underwent following the preceding 14 year vanvas, or forest exile, that was imposed on them. During this period of exile and disguise, they found it necessary to lay aside the many divine and distinctive weapons that they possessed. They hid these in a ‘Shami’ tree (Prosopis spicigera) near their incognito residence. When the year ended, they returned to the spot, found their weaponry intact, and worshipped (in thanksgiving) both the Shami tree and the Goddess Durga, presiding deity of strength and victory. Meanwhile, the Kauravas were invading the area, suspecting the residence of the Pandavas there. Upon finishing their devotions, the Pandavas made straight to battle and won the contest. The day on which all these events occurred has since been known as “Vijayadashami”, where “Vijaya” is the Sanskrit word for “Victory”. The success of the Pandavas in this endeavor has been extrapolated to the everyday ventures of the common man today. People exchange Shami leaves and wish each other victory in their own ventures and efforts.
Significance
In Northern India, the same 10-day festival commemorates the victory of Rama, prince of Ayodhya in present-day Uttar Pradesh, over Ravana, the ruler of Lanka.
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