Dussehra is mainly associated with the story of Rama based on the Ramayana, one of the two great Indian epics. Set around 1,000 BCE in India, this epic attempts to establish the social ideals and explains the depth of human relationships. lord Rama was the protagonist of the epic, while his wife Sita was its female lead. He has been idolised as the ideal son, husband and king, while she is the epitome of womanhood.
lord Rama was the eldest son of Dashratha, the king of Ayodhya and was beloved of all, because of his genial ways. The king decided to hand over his throne to him and retire. Contrary to her husband’s decision, lord Rama’s stepmother (Kaikayi) wanted her own son Bharata to be the king and forced Dashratha to banish Rama from Ayodhya, the kingdom and give him 14 years of exile. Rama gladly accepted the stepmother’s wishes and left the palace and the kingdom with his wife Sita, and brother lakshmana.
The grief-stricken father soon died. When Bharata, who was on a visit to his maternal grandfather, came back and came to know what his mother had done, he immediately set out to bring his brother back from the forest. Rama was glad to welcome his brother Bharata, but he refused to go back to the kingdom before the completion of his exile. Rama had another loss at hand, as the demon-king Ravana, abducted his wife Sita and took her away to his kingdom. This became the reason behind the long search and the various events that followed, which led to the destruction of Ravana in the hands of lord Rama, with the help of the monkey army he had befriended on his way to lanka. Dussehra is the day, when Rama killed Ravana and won back his wife. Hence, Dusshera is also called Vijayadashmi.
Dussehra symbolises the conquest of good over evil. It is thus considered as an auspicious day. Even today after burning the effigy of Ravana along with his subordinates Meghanad and Kumbhkarana on the Dusshera celebrations, we simply symbolize the power of goodness and humanity is above all kind of powers. As lord Rama fought a battle of ten days with Ravana, who had abducted his wife Sita, the day of his victory of Vijayadashmi, the tenth day of victory. It is said that this day symbolises not as the victory of Ram but also the victory of mankind.
That is why this day is held in high regard by people who believe that whenever there will be chaos in the society and evil will try to take over humanity, God will appear in a form of savior to protect his devotees.
Feasting and Busting crackers are also an important feature of the Dusshera celebration. At many places in the country, colourful fairs and exhibitions are also organised on the occasion. Touch of modernity is also seen in album song with high pitch sound record dance and also wine used openly. The question arises that if somebody dies will his or her relatives carry to their dead body to the crematorium ground by taking wineIJ If the answer is ‘no’, so why are the people taking wine during the immersion ceremonyIJ Every Puja should not be celebrated in a materialistic way.
In every home living mother should be worshipped and society should guard the dignity of woman. In recent years in the broad day light women are gang-raped; dowry torture and domestic violence have increased. We worship only clay image of Maa Durga with prana pachista. But we have forgotten those who have prana (life). Can we give to them pachista, (establishment) when we are already increasingly declining the living mothers a place in our home. In every step of our life living, mother is ignored and nonliving man made clay image regarded highly.
Ramakrishna Paramahansha describes the type of worship as barren worship.
Women empowerment and emancipation should be given more importance. Mother and motherland are superior to heaven and charity begins at home. Every house should be reformed and women should be worshiped. They should not be deprived of their right. No injustice should come their way. The Navratri will turn into Navadha bhakti. Every Ratri (Dark of ignorance) will turn into Ratra (wisdom). let us come forward to worship Maa Durga and celebrate in a more meaningful way.
(The writer is a research scholar on Jagannath cult and culture. He has got PhD in language and literature from Utkal University of Culture, Bhubaneswar. M: 9438097732)