6 Reasons To Celebrate Vijayadashmi
The Vijayadashmi is a cultural festival of victory of good over evil. The festival is celebrated as per the Hindu calendar in the month of Ashwin, which mostly falls on the month of September or October. The celebration begins with Maha Navaratri, which is celebrated for 9 days literally translate to nine nights. The celebration of Vijayadashmi begins on the 10th day after Navaratri celebration.
The festival Vijayadashmi is celebrated indifferently in many places. In Karnataka, Vijayadashmi is about Goddess Chamundi, while in West Bengal it’s about Goddess Durga. In some other places, It is celebrated for the victory of Lord Ram over Ravana. Vijayadashmi was traditionally a time for the entire community to meet and mingle with dance and merrymaking. This has changed over the period of time due to external influences.
1) The victory of Lord Ram over Ravana
The Vijayadashmi is celebrated to mark the victory of divine power, where Lord Ram made victory over Ravana. People celebrate this victory of righteousness over evil by burning the effigies of Ravana. In some places, the celebration includes organising the famed and popular Ramlila where artists perform the life story of Lord Ram, which happens throughout the evening.
2) Celebrating the killing of Demon Mahishasura
There was a powerful demon Mahishasura, who waged wars against gods and defeated them. They sought the help of Goddess Durga to defeat the demon. The Goddess fought the demon for 9 days and killed him on the tenth day. The Dussehra or Vijaya Dashmi victory of Goddess over demon Mahishasura.
3) The worship of Shami Tree
The Pandavas lost to Kauravas in gambling, as a result, they were banned from entering the kingdom for 12 years and were forced to seek exile in a forest. They were also forced live undercover for 1 year. In order to avoid being traced, they hide their weapons in a shami tree. According to the Mahabharata, it was on the day of Vijaya Dashami that they successfully completed their one year of incognito life. Arjuna collected the weapons from the Shami tree and defeated the Kauravas who attempted to steal the cattle of King Virata.
4. Sarasvati Puja and Vidyarambham
The Vijayadashmi is considered as an auspicious day called ‘Vidyarambham’ to begin your learning. The traditionally celebrated in Karnataka and Kerala, the day introduces small children to the world of letters and words. The child is formally initiated into the process of learning by writing a mantra on rice or sand spread in a plate with the help of the father or any other elderly. It’s also considered as formally day to learn music, dance, and folk arts as well.
5. The Beginning of the Harvest Season
The Vijayadashmi marks the beginning of the harvest season. People worship the god for a good harvest the next year. In some places, gods are worshipped with various offerings by performing Yajnas and other religious rituals mark the beginning of every harvest season.
6. An Auspicious Occasion to start something new
Most Hindus believe that it is lucky to start a new venture, project or journey on Vijayadashmi. Hence the day is chosen by many to start learning something new; art, language, or something new. If you are planning to start something new, you can start on the same day after a short puja.
7. Join the celebration in Mysuru
It is believed that during the 17th Century the king of Mysore started the celebration of Vijayadashmi on a grand scale. You can even today see the same spirit in the Vijayadashmi celebration fair is held in grand scale. The colourful processions of Lord Ram are carried which passes through the main market followed by hundreds.
The procession takes place through the city of Mysore, from the historical Mysore Palace to the Banni Mantapa. It continues till late in the evening with a torch-light parade that takes place in the outskirts of the city.
8. Join the celebration in Kota
The Vijayadashmi is celebrated in Kota, Rajasthan after Mysore on a grand scale. The grand procession held in Kota is the largest in the country. The victory procession of Lord Rama is welcomed by People with Cheer.
9. Celebrate Vijayadashmi With Joy & Love
Traditionally, in Indian culture, Vijayadashmi was always full of dances, where the whole community mixed, met and mingled. But because of external influences and invasions over the past two hundred years, we have lost that today. Otherwise, Vijayadashmi was always very vibrant.