Vijayadasami Festival 2014 Date; Meaning, Importance & Significance of Dusshera(Dashain) Festival

Dussehra is a big Hindu festival being celebrated in India. The festival of Dasara is being celebrated on the 10th day of the bright half of the month Ashwin (Aswayuja Suddha)(September/October) in every year. This festival is also known as VijayaDashami, Maha Navami, Dussera, Dasahara, Dashain (in Nepal), Navathri or Durgotsav. 

This year 2014, The Dusseshra festival will be celebrated on October 3, 2014(Friday).

SrivariCollections wishes a "Very Happy Vijaya Dasami" to ALL

Meaning of "Dusseshra" Festival:

The word "Dussehra" is derived from Sanskrit "Dasa-Hara" means "removal of ten heads" which is representing the triumph of Lord Sri Rama over the demon King Ravana, the victory of Good over Evil.

The word "VijayaDashami" is also derived from Sanskrit word Vijaya-Dasami meaning "the victory on Dasami" ( Dasami is the 10th lunar day of Hindu calendar month).

The Navaratri Festival is celebrated in 

1. Bengal and parts of North India as PUJA
2. Tamilnadu as NAVARATRI,
3. Karnataka and Andhrapradesh & Telangana as DASARA(DUSSESHRA) and
4. There is a culture of exhibiting a set of colour dolls on steps as KOLUVU during Navaratri in South India.

Importance & Significance of the Festival: 

•  Navaratri, the festival of Nine Nights. Goddess Adiparashakti is worshipped as "Goddess Durga for Valour", "Goddess Lakshmi for Wealth" and "Goddess Saraswati for Education"
• The first nine days of the month forming the Navaratri festival. These nine days are most important and sacred to Goddess Durga and the tenth day is the festival of Dasahara. 

• Navaratri Festival provides an opportunity to adore and worship the goddess in various forms. During Navaratri or the nine nights, on each day the goddess is specially decorated(Alamkarams) as Sri Annapurna Devi, Sri Rajarajeswari, Sri Bala Tripura Sundari, Sri Gayatri Devi, Sri MahaLakshmi, Sri Saraswati Devi, Sri Mahishasura Mardini, Sri Lalitha Tripura Sundari and special pujas are being performed.

• It is also marks the day as the victory of Goddess Durga over demon Mahishasura.

• On the day of Dussera, gigantic effigies of the ten headed Demon Ravana are set aflame amidst  bursting of crackers to signify the victory of Good over Evil. 

• It also marks the beginning of winter season.

Representing the Significance of the VijayaDasami Festival in Hindu Epics:
The Hindu Epics - The Ramayana and the Mahabharata are well connected with the festival.

• According to the Ramayanam The festival day(10th day) marks the victory of Lord's Rama over the Demon King Ravana

• The Mahabharat says, Pandavas (the five sons of Pandu) hid their weapons in a Shami Tree before entering the kingdom of Virat to complete the final year of Agnyatawas. After one year on this day VijayaDasami, they recovered the weapons and defeated Kauravas who had attacked King Virat to steal his cattle. 

• Since this day the custom of worshipping the weapons and Shami Tree and exchange of Shami leaves have been started which represents the symbol of Good Will and Victory.