Dussehra at Maa Vaishno Shakti Dham:
Dussehra is enthusiastically celebrated at Maa Vaishno Shakti Dham, Surat. It is celebrated in the Hindu calendar months of Ashwin and Kartik. Hindus observe a 10-day ceremony of fast, rituals, celebrations, and feasts on Dussehra. Dussehra honors the mother Goddess and triumph of Lord Rama over Demon Ravana.
This celebration starts from Navratri and ends with the tenth day festival of “Dussehra”. Dussehra is also celebrated at Maa Vaishno Shakti Dham, Surat.
Significance of Dussehra:
Dussehra also symbolizes the triumph of warrior Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. Thus, it is a celebration of the victory of good over evil. Ravana symbolizes Ego & Rama symbolizes Goodness (Our Real Self which is Sat Chit Anand). There is an ongoing fight between the good (Rama) & the evil (Ravana) in every man at the physical, mental & emotional levels.
Navratri and Dussehra are celebrated throughout the country at the same time with varying rituals. But with great enthusiasm and energy as it marks the end of scorching summer and the start of the winter season.
The tenth day after Navratri is called Dussehra. On this day, a number of fairs are organized throughout India, burning effigies of Ravana. It is also called “Vijayadashmi” as this day marks the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana.
Vijayadashami is considered to be an auspicious day for Indians on which they worship, protect and preserves ‘Shakti’ (power). According to Scriptures, by worshipping the ‘Shakti’ on these nine-days the householders attain the threefold power i.e. physical, mental and spiritual, which helps him to progress in life without any difficulty.
Significance of Dussehra across India:
Dussehra, predominantly a North Indian festival, is celebrated with great fervour and fanfare. It incorporates Ram Lila, a gala theatrical enactment of Rama’s life story. Effigies of Ravana—often along with those of Meghnada (Ravana’s son) and Kumbhkarana (Ravana’s brother)—are stuffed with firecrackers and set ablaze at night in open fields.