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Dassera Dassera is one of the most important Hindu festivals. It is a festival that celebrates the victory of Lord Rama over Lord Ravana of Lanka. On this day, Rama had killed the great demon Ravana who had abducted Rama's wife Sita to the kingdom of Lanka. Rama, along with his brother Laxmana, Hanuman the monkey prince and his monkey army, built a bridge over the Indian ocean and crossed over to the island of Lanka. The war against Ravana lasted for ten days. Rama battled with Ravana, killed him and rescued Sita. Ravana was an invincible warrior but his navel was his weak spot because this was where his pot of nectar was stored. Rama carefully aimed at the great warrior's navel and he fell down dead. People down the ages proclaim this victory as the greatest victory of good over evil. The day came to be known as Dassera and is still celebrated with gusto. Lord Rama was a great believer in the powers of Goddess Durga and he prayed to her for nine days before entering the battlefield on the tenth day. On that day, he killed Ravana and his brothers Meghnad and Kumbhakarana who were also mighty warriors. Ravana had a noble brother Vibhishana who joined hands with Rama to fight the battle with Ravana, as he knew Ravana was a wicked man who had wrongly abducted Sita. On this day, celebrations begin around sunset, the time when Ravana was supposed to have fallen. An actor playing the part of Rama shoots a flaming arrow at the navel of the effigy of Ravana. The effigy burns up with a huge display of fireworks that are stored inside it. Children have a gala time watching the fireworks, followed by the entertainment displayed by the enactment of the Ram-Leela. This story is written in the great
epic Ramayana and is recounted and enacted on this day with great enthusiasm.
Effigies of Ravana are created and burnt, followed by a Ram Leela. The
whole spectacle is like a big mela, greatly enjoyed by young and old alike.
Festivities Dassera is considered to be an auspicious
occasion. It is the custom to begin new work on this day. Everyone dresses
up in new clothes to celebrate. A puja thaali containing rice, roli, mithai,
a coconut and fruits finely cut, is decorated and placed before the idol.
The youngest female member of the family applies teeka with the thumb of
her right hand on the idol. Later she distributes the prasad to all. The
family then sits down to a grand feast.
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