Vijayadashami

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+aha ,avami
-urga Puja cele!ration.jpg
.lso called ,avratri
*!served !y /indus
Type 0eligious
#igni)cance 1ele!rating victory of #hakti over +ahishasura, of 2ord 0ama
over 0avana, and of -urga over demons like +ahishasura, 1handa3+unda
and #hum!ha3 ,ishum!ha4 that is victory of good over evil.
1ele!rations This day marks the end of -urga Puja so people immerse the
idols and go to each others5 house and e6change gifts and s7eets.
*!servancesPutting tika on forehead, prayers, religious rituals like !urning an
e8gy of 0avana "see puja, prasad(
-ate every year octo!er
$%&9 date &9 *cto!er $%&9
$%&' date ' *cto!er $%&', #aturday
$%&: date $$nd *cto!er $%&:,Thursday
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v t e
Vijayadashami also kno7n as -ussehra or -asara or -ashain or Tenth day of
,avratri or -urgotsav is one of the most important /indu festivals cele!rated
in various forms, across <ndia, ,epal, #ri 2anka, and =angladesh. The name
-ussehra is derived from #anskrit -asha3hara literally means -ashanan
ravan ",ame of devil > in short -asha and /ara "defeat(( referring to 2ord
0ama5s victory over the ten3headed demon king 0avana.[&]
The day also marks the victory of ;oddess -urga over the demon
+ahishasur. The name -ussehra is also derived from #anskrit -asha ? .haha
@ -asharahaha @ -asharaha. .haha means day. A6ample .harnisha is
derived from .haha?nisha. ;oddess fought 7ith evils for B nights and &%
days. The name Vijayadashami is also derived from the #anskrit 7ords
CVijaya3dashamiC literally meaning the victory on the dashami "-ashmi !eing
the tenth lunar day of the /indu calendar month(. -i7ali the festival of lights
is cele!rated t7enty days after -ussehra.
.d !y +eteoroids
1ontents [hide]
& #igni)cance
&.& Victory of 2ord 0ama over 0avana
&.$ Victory of -urga +ata over +ahishasura
&.9 /omecoming of -urga +aata
&.' And of .gyata7as of Pandavas
&.: Dautsa5s ;uru -akshina
$ -asha3/ara in diEerent parts of <ndia
$.& ,orthern <ndia
$.&.& /imachal Pradesh
$.$ #outhern <ndia
$.$.& .ndhra Pradesh
$.$.$ Telangana
$.$.9 Darnataka
$.$.' Derala and FaEna "1eylon(
$.$.: Tamil ,adu
$.9 Western <ndia
$.9.& +aharashtra
$.' Aastern <ndia
$.'.& *disha
$.'.$ =engal
9 .shok Vijaya -ashmi
' *ther -usshera cele!rations
'.& Vish7akarma -ivas
'.$ -asain in ,epal
'.9 -ussehra in =angladesh
'.' Punja!i /arvest
: #ee also
G 0eferences
H A6ternal links
#igni)cance[edit]
.s the name suggests Vijayadashami or -ussehra is cele!rated on the tenth
day of the month of .sh7in according to the /indu lunisolar calendar 7hich
corresponds to #eptem!er or *cto!er of the ;regorian calendar. The )rst
nine days are cele!rated as +aha ,avratri"-evnagariI , 5nine nights5( or
#harada ,avratri "the most important ,avratri( and culminates on the tenth
day as -ussehra.
<n <ndia, the harvest season !egins at this time and so the +other ;oddess is
invoked to start the ne7 harvest season and reactivate the vigor and fertility
of the soil. This is done through religious performances and rituals 7hich are
thought to invoke cosmic forces that rejuvenate the soil. +any people of the
/indu faith o!serve through social gatherings and food oEerings to the gods
at home and in temples throughout <ndia and ,epal.
Victory of 2ord 0ama over 0avana[edit]
#ee alsoI 0amayana, #hri 0ama and 0avana
A8gy of 0avana !urns
.s per /indu religion, on this day in the Treta Jug, Ding 0ama, also called #hri
0am, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, killed 0avana 7ho had a!ducted 0ama5s
7ife #ita to his kingdom of 2anka. 0ama, his !rother 2akshmana, their
follo7er /anuman and an army fought a great !attle to rescue #ita. The
entire narrative is recorded in the epic 0amayana, a /indu scripture.
0ama had performed C1handi /omaC and invoked the !lessings of -urga,
7ho !lessed 0ama 7ith secret kno7ledge of the 7ay to kill 0avana. *n the
day of .shvin #hukla -ashami, 0ama defeated 0avana and rescued #ita.
Thus it is termed as Vijaya -ashami. =ased on the inferences from ValmikiKs
0amayana, DalidasKs 0aghuvamsa, TulsidasKs 0am 1harit +anas, and
Deshavdas5s 0am 1handra Jas 1handrika as 7ell as common perception in
<ndia, 0ama, #ita, and 2akshmana returned to .yodhya on the 9%th day of
.shvin "&BL$% days after Vijayadashmi(. To mark the return of 2ord 0ama, in
the evening, the residents of .yodhya lit their city 7ith millions of earthen
lamps "called -eepak(. #ince then, this day is cele!rated in <ndia as
-eepa7ali or -i7ali.
+any people perform C.ditya /omaC as a C#hanti JagnaC and recite #undara
Danda of #rimad 0amayana for : days. These Jagna performances are
thought to create po7erful agents in the atmosphere surrounding the house
that 7ill keep the household environment clean and healthy. These rituals are
intended to rid the household of the ten !ad ualities, 7hich are represented
!y &% heads of 0avana as follo7sI
Dama vasana "2ust(
Drodha ".nger(
+oha ".ttachment(
2o!ha ";reed(
+ada "*ver Pride(
+atsara "Fealousy(
#7artha "#el)shness(
.nyaaya "<njustice(
.manavata "1ruelty(
.hankara "Ago(.
#ome householders perform Jagnas thrice daily along 7ith #andhya Vandana,
7hich is also called .ahavaneeya .gni, ;rahapatya .gni or -akshina .gni. <n
addition, the .ditya /oma is performed 7ith the +aha #urya +antras and the
.runa Prapathaka of the Jajurveda. These mantras are !elieved to keep the
heart, !rain and digestive functions in !alance in the a!sence of adeuate
sunlight in the 7inter months.
Victory of -urga +ata over +ahishasura[edit]
+ain articleI +ahishasura
#ee alsoI +aa -urga
-urga Puja at =ag!aMar #ar!ajanin, ,orth Dolkata.
#ome of the demons, or .suras, 7ere very po7erful and am!itious and
continually tried to defeat the -evas, or ;ods, and capture /eaven. *ne
.sura, +ahishasura, gre7 very po7erful and created havoc on the earth.
Nnder his leadership, the .suras defeated the -evas. The 7orld 7as crushed
under +ahishasura5s tyranny, the -evas joined their energies into #hakti, a
single mass of incandescent energy, to kill +ahishasura.
. very po7erful !and of lightning emerged from the mouths of =rahma,
Vishnu and #hiva and a young, !eautiful female virgin 7ith ten hands
appeared. .ll the ;ods gave their special 7eapons to her. This #hakti
coalesced to form the goddess -urga. 0iding on a lion, 7ho assisted her,
-urga fought +ahishasura. The !attle raged for nine days and nights. Finally
on the tenth day of .shvin shukla paksha, +ahishasura 7as defeated and
killed !y -urga.
/ence -asha3/ara is also kno7n as ,avratri or -urgotsav and is a
cele!ration of -urga5s victory. -urga, as 1onsort of 2ord #hiva, represents
t7o forms of female energy L one mild and protective and the other )erce
and destructive.
/omecoming of -urga +aata[edit]
+ain articleI +aa -urga
-aksha, the 2ord of the Aarth, and his 7ife Prasuti, had a daughter called
#ati. .s a child, #ati started 7orshipping 2ord #hiva as her 7ould3!e3hus!and.
2ord #hiva 7as pleased 7ith #ati5s 7orship of him and married her. -aksha
7as against their marriage !ut could not prevent it. -aksha arranged a yagna
to 7hich everyone e6cept 2ord #hiva 7as invited. #ati, feeling ashamed of
her father5s !ehaviour and shocked !y the attitude meted to7ards her
hus!and, killed herself. 2ord #hiva 7as anguished 7hen he discovered this.
/e lifted #ati5s !ody on his shoulders and started dancing. .s the supreme
po7er 7as dancing 7ith 7rath, the 7orld 7as on the verge of destruction.
Then 2ord ,arayana came for7ard as a saviour and used his 1hakra to cut
#ati5s !ody into pieces. Those pieces fell from the shoulders of the dancing
#hiva and scattered throughout the <ndian su!continent. #hiva 7as paci)ed
7hen the last piece fell from his shoulder. 2ord ,arayana revived #ati. The
places 7here the pieces of #ati fell are kno7n as the C#hakti PithsC or energy
pits. Dalighat in Dolkata, Damakshya near ;u7ahati and Vaishnav -evi in
Fammu are three of these places.
<n her ne6t !irth, #ati 7as !orn as Parvati or #haila3Putri "First form of -urga(,
the daughter of /imavat, ruler of the /imalayas. 2ord ,arayana asked #hiva
to forgive -aksha. Aver since, peace 7as restored and -urga 7ith her
children Dartikeya, ;anesh and her t7o sakhis L Faya and Vijaya visit her
parents each year during the season of #haratkal or autumn, 7hen -urga3
Puja is cele!rated.
And of .gyata7as of Pandavas[edit]
#ee alsoI Pandavas
<n the age of -vapara Juga, Pandavas L the )ve ackno7ledged sons of Pandu
"#anskritI (, !y his 7ife Dunti L lost to Dauravas in a game of dice, and
!oth spent t7elve years of Vana7as, or e6ile to the forest, follo7ed !y one
year of .gnyata7as. The !rothers hid their 7eapons in a hole in a #hami tree
!efore entering the Dingdom of Virat to complete the )nal year of
.gnyata7as "e6ile incognito(. .fter that year, on Vijayadashmi, they
recovered the 7eapons, declared their true identities and defeated Dauravas,
7ho had attacked Ding Virat to steal his cattle. #ince that day, #hami trees
and 7eapons have !een 7orshipped and the e6change of #hami leaves on
Vijayadashmi has !een a sym!ol of good 7ill and victory. This is also called
#hamiOFam!i Puja.
Dautsa5s ;uru -akshina[edit]
Dautsa, the young son of a =rahmin called -evdatt, lived in the city of
Paithan. .fter completing his education 7ith 0ishi Varatantu, he insisted on
his guru accepting ;uru -akshina, a present. The guru said, CDautsa, to give
dakshina in return for learning 7isdom is not appropriate. ;raduation of the
disciple makes the guru happy, and that is the real ;uru -akshina.C
Dautsa 7as not satis)ed. /e still felt it 7as his duty to give his guru
something. The guru said, C.ll right, if you insist on giving me dakshina, then
give me &'% million gold coins, &% million for each of the &' sciences < have
taught you.C
Dautsa 7ent to Ding 0aghu. 0aghuraja 7as an ancestor of 2ord 0ama, famous
for his generosity. =ut just at that time he had spent all his money on the
=rahmins, after performing the Vishvajit sacri)ce. 0aghuraja asked Dautsa to
return in three days. 0aghuraja immediately left to get the gold coins from
<ndra. <ndra summoned Du!er, the god of 7ealth. <ndra told Du!er, C+ake rain
full of gold coins, fall on the #hanu and .apati trees around 0aghuraja5s city
of .yodhya.C
The rain of gold coins !egan to fall. Ding 0aghu gave all the coins to Dautsa,
and Dautsa hastened to oEer the coins to Varatantu 0ishi. ;uru had asked
only &'% millions, so he gave the rest !ack to Dautsa. Dautsa 7as not
interested in money, considering honour to !e more valua!le than 7ealth. /e
asked the king to take the remaining gold coins !ack. =ut the king refused, as
kings do not take !ack the daan "gift(.
Finally Dautsa distri!uted the gold coins to the people of .yodhya on the day
of .shvin shukla dashami. <n remem!rance of this event, there has !een a
custom of plucking the leaves of the .apati tree, and then people present
these leaves to one another as gold.
-asha3/ara in diEerent parts of <ndia[edit]
. scene of -asratha sending his son 0am for training
,orthern <ndia[edit]
<n Dashmir, /imachal Pradesh, Nttar Pradesh, /aryana, Punja!, Nttarakhand
and 7estern =ihar, it is tradition to plant !arley seeds in earthen pots on the
)rst day of ,avratri. *n the day of -asara, the nine3day old sprouts "called
noratras or nortas or of nav ratris or nine nights( are used as sym!ols of luck.
+en place them in their caps or !ehind their ears.
<n most of northern <ndia and some parts of +aharashtra, -asha3/ara is
cele!rated more in honour of 0ama. -uring these &% days many plays and
dramas !ased on 0amayana are performed. These are called 0amlila. There
are outdoor fairs and large parades 7ith e8gies of 0avana "a king of ancient
#ri 2anka(, his !rother Dum!hakarna and son +eghanad. The e8gies are
!urnt on !on)res in the evening. .fter -asara, the hot summer ends,
especially in ,orth <ndia. The onset of cold 7eather is !elieved to encourage
infections. The !urning of the e8gies, )lled 7ith )recrackers containing
phosphorus, supposedly puri)es the atmosphere, 7hile the temples perform
1handi /oma or -urga /oma, 7ith the same intent.
<n the Dumaon region of Nttarakhand, the -asara festival starts 7ith the
performance of 0amlila 7hich is uniue as it is !ased on the musical
rendering of the katha or story of 2ord 0ama. <t is !ased on the theatrical
traditions set !y Nday #hankar during his stay in .lmora4 these traditions
7ere further enriched !y +ohan Npreti and =rijendra 2al #ah. Dno7n as the
.lmora or Dumaon style, 0amlila has !een recognised !y N,A#1* in its $%%P
report as one of the representative styles of 0amlila in <ndia.[$]
/imachal Pradesh[edit]
+ain articleI Dullu -ussehra
Dullu -ussehra is cele!rated in Dullu Valley of /imachal Pradesh. <t is
cele!rated in the -halpur maidan in the Dullu valley. -ussehra at Dullu
commences on the tenth day of the rising moon, i.e. on 5Vijaya -ashami5 day
itself and continues for seven days. <ts history dates !ack to the &Hth century
7hen local Ding Fagat #ingh installed an idol of 0aghunath on his throne as a
mark of penance. .fter this, god 0aghunath 7as declared as the ruling deity
of the Valley.
#outhern <ndia[edit]
Vijayadashami is cele!rated in various 7ays in diEerent parts of #outh <ndia.
<t is seen as a day to e6press gratitude to everything that !ring success in
life.[9] 1ele!rations can take many forms, ranging from 7orshipping the
goddess 1hamundesh7ari "-urga( to e6hi!iting colorful toys3, cele!rated as
;olu in Darnataka,Derala,Telangana, .ndhra Pradesh and Tamil ,adu from
,avratri on7ards.
,avaratri ;olu, dolls and )gurine display festival for girls and 7omen in #outh
<ndia
There is a legend related to the e6hi!ition of toys that is kno7n as C=om!e
ha!!aC in Darnataka, C=ommala DoluvuC in .ndhra Pradesh,C=omma ;olluCin
Derala and ;olu or Dolu in Tamil ,adu. #ince the goddess -urga needed
tremendous po7er, all other gods and goddesses transferred their po7er to
her and they all stood still as statues. To respect the self3sacri)ce of these
deities during the festival days, /indus revere murities, 7hich are small
statues in the shape of particular gods and goddesses. ;olu ends on -asara.
Vijayadashami is also the auspicious day for starting their formal education.
#tudents keep their !ooks and 7orkers their tools for puja on the ninth day of
,avratri ".yudha Puja, #aras7athi Puja(4 these are taken !ack and used after
puja on the tenth day "Vijayadasami(. The practice is so old that in many
parts of south <ndia, even non3/indus follo7 this tradition. <n $%%', many
churches in Derala formally adopted the same tradition of introducing young
children to education on -asara day.
.ndhra Pradesh[edit]
A8gy of 0avana to !e !urnt at +ultipurpose ;round, #outh ;oa L $%&$
Vijayadashami has great importance in the Telugu household. For life events
such as starting a ne7 !usinessO venture, or !uying a ne7 home or vehicle,
rituals take place on this auspicious day. They perform .yudha Puja 7here
they sanctify vehicles and other ne7 items. <n the evenings, a procession is
taken up in all major cities 7here people dress up as characters from the
0amayana and perform stage sho7s called 0amlila. /uge e8gies of 0avana,
Dum!hakarna and <ndrajit or +eghanada are !urned, signifying victory of 2ord
0ama.
This festival is cele!rated in all temples of -urga. #hodasa Npacharam is
oEered to her. -uring ,avratri "Cnine nightsC(, ;oddess -urga is decorated in
her diEerent aspects like =ala Tripura #undari, +ahishasura +ardhini,
.nnapoorna, Dali, 0aja 0ajesh7ari, Danaka -urga, 2akshmi, #aras7ati and
;ayatri -evi. *n the river !anks of Drishna at Vijaya7ada, in an age3old
temple of C#ri -urga +alles7ar #7amiC and on a hill called C<ndra3Dila3.driC,
-asara > ,avratri are cele!rated every year 7ith great pomp > sho7 and
tens of thousands of people visit this temple during this time. These
cele!rations are concluded on the tenth day of CVijaya -ashamiC, 7hich is
usually a national holiday. <n Vijaya7ada on Vijayadashami day, Teppa
Ntsavam is cele!rated, in 7hich -urga5s image is placed on a !ig !oat
decorated 7ith Qo7ers and lights, is cele!rated in the evening.
Telangana[edit]
<n Telangana, younger family mem!ers usually pay respects to their elders !y
giving them the leaves of #hami treeO Fam!i tree, and seeking their !less. The
-urga temple in Warangal is located adjacent at the centre =adrakali 2ake.
.lampur Fogulam!a Temple is one of the .stadasa #haktipeethas, &P
prominent Temples dedicated to ;oddess #hakti. <t 7as also mentioned
several times in ancient scriptures. #haran ,avaratri is the !iggest festival at
.lampur Fogulam!a Temple. The concluding event, Theppotsavam "!oat
festival( is an eye3catching event held on Vijaya -asami at Drishna L
Thunga!hadra sangamam "conQuence of 0iver Drishna and Tunga!hadra(.
Women play =athukamma !y placing a clay pot decorated 7ith Qo7ers
around 7hich they dance.
Darnataka[edit]
<n Darnataka, .yudha Puja, on the ninth day of -asha3/ara, is cele!rated 7ith
the 7orship of implements used in daily life such as computers, !ooks,
vehicles, or kitchen tools. =uses, trucks and machines in factories are
decorated. The eEort to see the divine in the tools and o!jects one uses in
daily life is central to this cele!ration, so it includes all tools that help one
earn one5s livelihood. Dno7ledge 7orkers go for !ooks, pen or computers,
farmers the plough and other agricultural tools, machinery for industrialists
and carsO!usesOtrucks for the transportation 7orkersRall are decorated 7ith
Qo7ers and 7orshiped on this day invoking ;od5s !lessing for success in
coming years.
<t is !elieved that any ne7 venture such as starting of !usiness or purchasing
of ne7 household items on this day is !ound to succeed.
#hastra puja, or the 7orship of the 7eapon #hastraO.stra used !y ;oddess
-urga, are 7orshiped on this day, in some areas.
+ysore -asara
+ain articleI +ysore -asara
The legend associated 7ith the #hami tree )nds commemoration during the
reno7ned +ysore -asara > ,avratri cele!rations at +ysore. The +ysore
cele!rations also strongly emphasiMe the -urga legend descri!ed a!ove, as
may !e e6pected in the city !uilt at the very site of the events of the -urga
legend. *n Vijaydashami day, at the culmination of a colourful &%3day
cele!ration, the goddess 1hamundesh7ari is 7orshiped and then !orne in a
grand procession on a ;olden .m!ari or elephant3mounted throne through
the city of +ysore, from the historical +ysore Palace to the =anni +antapa.
=anni is the Dannada 7ord for the #anskrit #hami, and +antapa means
CPavilionC.
+adikeri -asara
+ain articleI +adikeri -asara
<n +adikeri, -asha3/ara is cele!rated in a diEerent style. +adikeri -asara has
a history of over &%% years. -asha3/ara !egins 7ith Dargas from four
+ariamma Temples. There is a procession of &% +antapas from &% Temples on
the night of Vijayadashami.
-iEerent stories from parts of 0amayana or +aha!harata are chosen as
themes for each ta!leau6 from each of the &% temples and a grand sho7 is
put up in the middle of the night amidst a huge cro7d thronging from all over.
The !est Ta!leau6 is a7arded each year. 2ater, these cars proceed to7ards
C=anni +antapC near mahadevapete in the to7n 7here Pooja is oEered. This
marks the culmination of the ,avarathri cele!rations. This !eing the last day3
goes on from && in the night till ne6t da7n. The festival, 7hich is thought of
as the CVictory of ;ood over AvilC and C0eturn of 0ama from A6ileC is
cele!rated in grand style. =ecause the day is auspicious, people inaugurate
ne7 vehicles, machines, !ooks, 7eapons and tools !y ceremonially asking
god to !less the ne7 items.
Derala and FaEna "1eylon([edit]
The last three days of the ,avratri festival, i.e. .shtami, ,avami, and
-ashami are cele!rated as #aras7ati Puja. The cele!rations start 7ith the
Puja Veypu "*Eering for Worship(. <t consists of placing the !ooks for Pooja on
the .shtami day. <t may !e in oneKs o7n house, in the local ,ursery #chool
run !y traditional teachers, or in the local temple. The !ooks 7ill !e taken out
for reading, after 7orship, only on the morning of the third day "Vijaya
-ashami(. <t is called Puja Aduppu "Taking !ack after Puja(. 1hildren are
happy since they are not e6pected to study on these days. *n the
Vijayadashami day, Derala cele!rates Vidyaram!ham also kno7n as
AMhuthiniruthu or <nitiation of Writing 7here children !et7een t7o and three
years old are formally initiated !efore they are admitted to nursery schools.
The child is made to 7rite for the )rst time on the rice spread in a plate 7ith
the inde6 )nger, guided !y an elder of the family or !y a reputed teacher. The
little ones 7ill have to 7rite C/ari #hri ;anapataye ,amahC or C*mC in FaEna
and recite the same to mark the auspicious entry into the 7orld of education.
This is considered a memora!le event in the life of a person. .yudha Puja ,
ayudha means tools "such as pencil in FaEna(, "a kind of ;iving respect to the
tools used for 7ork( is also conducted during this period.
*ne 7ill see a large num!er of display ads !y classical dance, vocal and
instrumental music teachers in Tamil ne7spapers in Toronto, 1anada oEering
commencement of ne7 classes for the young ones on this day.
Tamil ,adu[edit]
<n Tamil ,adu, the festival incorporates 7orship of the goddesses 2akshmi,
#aras7ati, and #hakti. <n Dulasekarapatnam located $% km from Tiruchendur
"Thoothukudi -ist(, -asara festival is cele!rated very uniuely. The
+utharamman temple is e6traordinary, as it has ;od #hiva and ;oddess
#hakthi in the same shrine. .ny prayers oEered in the temple are granted, as
#hiva and #hakthi reside in the temple happily together. +ore than &,:%%,%%%
devotees gather together and cele!rate ,avratri in this village. This coastal
village used to !e a port in its earlier days.
People fast on all B days and tie a holy thread on )st. People dress up as a
diEerent ;od each day and collect money. The money is oEered to the temple
on the end of the ninth day. 1hildren love the diEerent casting of people
during this season. This festival marks a colorful season in this area.
Western <ndia[edit]
+aharashtra[edit]
2eaves of the .pta tree that are e6changed during -asara
#aEron +arigold "Tagetes patula( Qo7ers also kno7n in +arathi as Fhendu
"( assume special signi)cance
<n +aharashtra, the festival is cele!rated on the tenth day of the month of
.sh7in "7hich falls in *cto!er( according to the #haka /indu 1alendar. These
three and a half days in the /indu 2unar calendar are considered very
auspicious. *n the day of -asara, the deities installed on the )rst day of the
,avratri are immersed in 7ater. People visit each other and e6change s7eets.
People 7orship the .pta tree "Piliostigma racemosum( and e6change its
leaves "kno7n as golden leaves( as a sym!ol of gold 7ishing each other a
!right and prosperous future. The tradition of e6changing .pta leaves is
sym!olic of 0aghuraja, an ancestor of 0ama and Du!era. +any artisan
communities ritually 7orship tools of all kinds and they are given rest on this
speci)c day. The saEron3coloured +arigold are particularly associated 7ith
and sold in signi)cant uantities during this festive period. They are used for
!oth 7orship and decorating homes and 7ork3places.[']
*n this day people also ritually cross the !order of their community in a
ceremony kno7n as #imollanghan "+arathiI translationI crossing the
!order(. This practice has its roots in the idea that this day is an auspicious
one on 7hich to start ne7 ventures. <n ancient times kings used the feast of
-asara to cross the frontier and )ght against their neigh!ouring kingdoms.
Thus -asara also marks the !eginning of the 7ar season[citation needed].
Aastern <ndia[edit]
*disha[edit]
Vijaya -ashami or -ussehra is cele!rated as -urga Puja in t7o diEerent 7ays
in *disha. <n major #hakti Peethas like Tara Tarini "=reast #hrine of .di #hakti(
and =imala "Fagannath Temple( or other temples of the goddesses, the -urga
Puja is o!served 7ith rituals for a period of &% to &G days, kno7n as #hodasa
Npachara. The goddess -urga is also 7orshiped !y devotees in diEerent
pendals throughout the state. The pendals are !eautifully decorated. The last
day of the #harodiya -urga Puja is kno7n as Vijayadashami. .fter the last
ritual .parajita Puja is performed to the goddess, a tearful fare7ell is oEered
to her. The 7omen oEer -ahi3Pakhal "cooked rice soaked in 7ater, 7ith curd(,
Pitha "!aked cakes(, +itha "s7eets( and fried )sh to the ;oddess. +ost of the
community pujas postpone the fare7ell as long as possi!le and arrange a
grand send3oE. The images are carried in processions kno7n as =hasani Fatra
or =isarjan Fatra around the locale and )nally are immersed in a near!y river
or lake. .fter the immersion of the deity, people across the state cele!rate
0avan Podi, in 7hich they !urn an e8gy of the demon 0avan.
=engal[edit]
#indur !eing applied on the forehead of ;oddess -urga during Vijaya
-ashami.
<n =engal, -ussehra is cele!rated as -urga Puja. -eities of the goddess
-urga are 7orshipped for )ve days, and on the )fth day "Vijaya -ashami(
immersed in a river or pond. This is referred as -urga =isarjanO=hashaan. <n
Fharkhand, =engal, .ssam and *disha, the goddess Dali, an appellation of
-urga, is also 7orshipped as a sym!ol of #hakti "Po7er(.
.shok Vijaya -ashmi[edit]
The .m!edkarite people in <ndia cele!rate this festival as .shok
Vijayadashmi, since the +auryan Amperor .shoka is !elieved to have
converted to =uddhism on this day.[:] .lso -r. .m!edkar had converted to
=uddhism on this day at -eeksha!hoomi, ,agpur in &B:G, 7hich fell on &'
*cto!er in that year.
,o7adays .shok Vijaya -ashmi is !eing cele!rated all over <ndia !y the
follo7ers of -r =a!asahe! .m!edkar. The grand festival and congregation is
held at ,agpur, +aharashtra, 7here millions of people gather to remem!er
the -hhamma31hakra Pravartan done !y -r .m!edkar and to cele!rate
.shoka Vijayadashami. These people do not !urn an e8gy of 0avana.
.m!edkarite people cele!rate it !y organiMing community cele!rations, 7ith
speeches and meals. <t also accompanied !y entertainment programs !ased
on =uddhist themes. <n some places it is a full day program.
*ther -usshera cele!rations[edit]
Vish7akarma -ivas[edit]
-asha3/ara is also Vish7akarma -ivas, the ,ational 2a!or -ay of <ndia. Veda
Vyasa is considered the foremost guru, and Vijayadashami is also cele!rated
as Vyasa puja.
-asain in ,epal[edit]
+ain articleI -asain
.n elder of the family doing tika ritual to the younger
Vijayadashami "( or -asain "( is the !iggest festival of the year in
,epal that falls in #eptem!erO*cto!er and is cele!rated !y /indu and non3
/indu ,epalis. .mong the ,e7ars, it is kno7n as +ohani. The &%th day of
-asain is Vijayadashami, on 7hich elders put Tika and Famara on the
forehead of younger mem!ers of the family. Famara is so7n on the )rst day of
the festival 7hich !ecomes greenish yello7 of a!out &%L$% cm length 7hich
represent sym!ol of victory. #ome ethnic groups receive Tika and Famara only
on the &%th day 7hereas others continue to receive until the follo7ing full
moon. -epending upon the relationship, people oEer 5-akshina5 after
receiving the Tika and Famara. *n the eighth day of the festival, people oEer
sacri)ce of goats, !uEalo, chicken etc. to goddess -urga. +eat is heavily
consumed after the sacri)ce taken as the gift of god. People visit their
relatives and e6change greetings throughout the &: days of the festival.
Temples of goddess -urga are cro7ded throughout the days of the festival in
diEerent parts of the country. For many people and specially children, !uying
of ne7 clothes !ears special importance. #ince the e6penditure during the
days of the festival is signi)cant, many poor people )nd it di8cult to manage.
,epal o!serves the longest holidays of the year and highest mo!ility of the
people during these days as people visit their relatives. <n the past, until the
falhtthl of +onarchism in $%%P, the only /indu +onarch on the Planet, the
Ding of ,epal, used to put tika on the foreheads of the people.
-ussehra in =angladesh[edit]
<n =angladesh, it is a )ve3day long festival and is cele!rated in mandaps
"congregation(. The largest festival is held at -hakesh7ari temple and
0amkrishna missionary in -haka. *n the day of -asha3/ara, clay statues of
the ;oddess -urga are su!merged in rivers. The pooja is performed 7ith
turmeric and other pooja items, 7hich are added to the river in order to help
the 7ater yield !etter crops.
Punja!i /arvest[edit]
Punja!i farmers harvest the kharif crop after -ussehra 7ith the ra!i crop
!eing planted after -i7ali.
#ee also[edit]
=athukamma
+adikeri -asara
Satra
Dullu -ussehra
Vidyaram!ham
;olu
-asara Alephants
0eferences[edit]
Fump up T !haskar.com. CVijaydashmi L cele!ration of good over evilC.
0etrieved && Fe!ruary $%&$.
Fump up T 0amlila L the Traditional Performance of the 0amayana N,A#1*.
Fump up T C-ussehra or Vijayadashami L Why -o We 1ele!rate <tUC. &'
*cto!er $%&9. 0etrieved 9 .pril $%&'.
Fump up T CPuneites set to cele!rate -asaraC. Times of <ndia. $' *cto!er
$%&$. 0etrieved $: *cto!er $%&$.
Fump up T C,agpur *rangesC. 0etrieved &% Fanuary $%%B.
A6ternal links[edit]
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-ussehra 1ele!ration in -iEerent Parts of <ndia
Pictures and Videos of -asara cele!rations in +angalore
+ysore -asara Festival
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