Made after days’ toil the tall effigies of Ravana and his brother and son were set on fire on Dusshera festival on Tuesday which marks victory of good over evil. The festival was celebrated with religious fervour and fanfare across the city at Rodi Belwala grounds, Daksh temple grounds, Ramlila grounds at BHEl and Jatwara bridge. There is more to just burning of evil Ravana and rejoicing in the victory of Rama, say the seers based in the city.
Speaking to The Pioneer, head of All World Gayatri Parivar Dr Pranav Pandya said, “The battle between Rama and Ravana is eternal and universal. It is going at all times and climes within and without us. Before killing Ravana in the external world we have to hunt for him inside our souls and vanquish that too.”
Dwelling on the importance of Dusshera festival, the founder of Matri Sadan Swami Shivanand said, “Anyone who acts and lives driven by the ten senses of human body (Gyan and Karma indriyas) is Ravana and the person who controls his senses and acts in life as per his intellect is Rama. In the nine days of Navratras, one worships the primordial energy Durga to gain energy and attain Ramatva (Godly virtues).”
Celebrated on the tenth day of the Shukl Paksh (bright moon day) in the month of Ashwin as per Hindu calendar, Dusshera also marks the transition from rain to the winter season.
It also marks changes in human body, inducing one to eat less and control one’s taste indriya (tongue), thus refraining from eating cereals which are difficult to digest.
Dr Himanshu Joshi of Gurukul Ayurvedic College says eating fruits and more of fluids keeps one fit during the changing season and onset of winters. “One must act like Rama being cautious of one’s foods and not indulge in overeating, following Ravana.”