Ever Wondered How Dussehra is Celebrated in Different Parts of India?

The festive season is nearly upon us and we are geared up for celebrating all the festivals with huge excitement. Even greater than before!  Huge hustle and bustle around the city are adding to the spirit of festivity in the air. 

As Navratri comes to a close, we are ready to host the grand finale aka Dussehra. That time of the year when we celebrate the victory of good over evil. A wide array of effigies stacked in bulks and lined up in huge lines as far as your eyes can see. Their vibrant colors and that gigantic grin on their faces must have attracted you the most. It's quite a stunning visual treat. Right?

But Dussehra is not just limited to burning effigies. There's a lot more than that. We are living in a country with numerous traditions and cultures then how there can be one way of celebrating a festival? You would be surprised to know that there are various different ways in which the same festival is dipped into different ethnic traditions. So let's go through all of them.

1. Mysore Dasara

Mysore’s Dasara is nothing less than celebrating Diwali. Actually even more than Diwali because of those 100,000 lights that are used to lit the Mysore Palace. This sounds like a grand affair and the view of the city is really a visual treat. Colorfully caparisoned elephants are definitely an add on to this huge celebration.

2. Vijaydashmi in Andhra Pradesh

People worship Mahishasurmarthini all over Andhra. Married women perform various ceremonies for the welfare of their husbands. Spectacular processions go through the streets with music and light on different vehicles.

3. Delhi Dussehra

Delhi’s Dussehra is a must-watch for everybody out there. Giant effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran, and Meghnad are burned. An amazing theatrical rendition of the Ramayana called Ramlila happening in the city is the center of attraction here.

4. Gujarat Dussehra

Gujarat’s Dussehra is known for its incredible traditions. Colorful Ghagras, dancing feet and dandiya sticks moving to the rhythm of folk songs are amazing to watch. After worshiping Ma Ambe, Garba evening is there.

5. Kullu Dussehra

Lord Raghunath is worshiped here and a procession of people with idols of different deities travels to Dhalpur Maidan. Cheerful people carry the idol on their head and carry it to the nearby temple.

6. Tamil Nadu Vijaydashmi

In Tamil Nadu, everybody dresses up like Goddess, beggars or monkeys and then begs up for alms and all this is practiced to learn humbleness. The atmosphere is all cheerful with the sounds of rhythmic drumbeats assailing the night sky. All 9 nine days of Navratri are different as each form of the goddess is worshiped on each day. 

7. West Bengal Dashmi

West Bengal is known for the Durga pooja, a ten-day riot of colors, sounds, lights, and devotion. All-powerful Goddess Durga idols are placed and they are  worshiped to the thump of drums and cymbals. 

So, where are you going to celebrate this Dussehra with your family and friends?