Dussehra or Vijayadashami, actually are two celebrations in India: the victory of Rama over Ravana & the victory of the goddess Durga over demon Mahishasur
First 9 days before Dussehra is celebrated as Navaratri - a major festival celebrated across india (Read about navratri on: http://bit.ly/NavratriCelebration)
It is said that the celebration of this festival was first started in the 17th century when the king of Mysore ordered his kingdom to celebrate on large scale.
It is also celebrated as Durga Puja which marks the annual visit of the goddess Durga to her maika. On the 10th day she returns to her husband - Lord Shiva
Dussehra is a sanskrit word combined with two different words. DASHA & HARA means removing of 10
This festival is also known as Vijayadashmi which is also derived from two different sanskrit word. VIJAYA means victory and DASHMI means 10th
Dussehra or Vijayadashami, actually are two celebrations in India: the victory of Rama over Ravana & the victory of the goddess Durga over demon Mahishasur
Vijayadashmi signifies the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon called Mahishasura who was killed by her on the 10th day of lunar calendar
Dussehra signifies the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana, the king of Lanka
Both this celebrations marks the victory of good over evil
First 9 days before Dussehra is celebrated as Navaratri - a major festival celebrated across india (Read about navratri on: http://bit.ly/NavratriCelebration)
It is said that the celebration of this festival was first started in the 17th century when the king of Mysore ordered his kingdom to celebrate on large scale.
A sculpture of Ravana is destroyed (with fire) as it marks the killing of all the evils of the souls that are represented by the 10 heads of Ravana
Ravana’s 10 heads represent ten bad qualities: (1) Kama vasana {Lust}, (2) Krodha {Anger}, (3) Moha {Attachment}, (4) Lobha {Greed}, (5) Mada {Over Pride}
(6) Matsara {Jealousy}, (7) Swartha {Selfishness}, (8) Anyaaya {Injustice}, (9) Amanavta {Cruelty}, (10) Ahankara {Ego}
Mahishasura was the king of the demons who became very powerful and Shakti (Incarnation of Goddess Durga) killed him
It is also celebrated as Durga Puja which marks the annual visit of the goddess Durga to her maika. On the 10th day she returns to her husband - Lord Shiva
Dussehra is not only celebrated in India but also in the neighbouring countries like Bangladesh & nepal and its a religious holiday in Malaysia
During this festival plays based on the Ramayana are performed at fairs and huge sculptures of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghanada are burnt
It is also a belief that Chakravartin Ashok Samrat converted to Buddhism on this day. Also Dr. Ambedkar converted to buddhism on this particular day