Dussehra
is celebrated by Hindus in India to mark the victory of good over evil.
According to the Hindu calendar, the day is commemorated on the tenth day of
the month of Ashwin and marks the end of Navratri or nine nights. Each of the
preceding nine days before Vijaya Dashami represents a powerful manifestation
of Durga, the goddess of power.
Two
mythological stories are associated with the festival of Dussehra. The first
one is related to Lord Rama, who fought the 10-headed demon Ravana. The demon
had kidnapped Rama's wife Sita, and held her captive in his kingdom of Lanka.
As Rama won the battle by killing Ravana and rescuing his wife, the end of
Navratri is celebrated by burning huge effigies of Ravana.
The
second and most popular mythology suggests that on Vijaya Dashami, goddess
Durga defeated and beheaded Mahishasura (the buffalo demon) with a trident
while riding a tiger. The Hindu female goddess, also known as mother Shakti
(power), eliminated him in order to save the world from his evil wrath.
With much
fervour and grandeur, different parts of India celebrate Navratri and Dussehra
in their own unique ways. During the festival, people in the north of India
fast and worship each incarnation of the goddess.
On the
other hand, the southern part of the Indian peninsula, observes Navratri by
displaying a collection of toys and miniature artifacts they have inherited
over generations. The toy exhibition is popularly known as Bombe Habba in
Karnataka, Bommala Koluvu in Andhra Pradesh and Golu or Kolu in Tamil Nadu.
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