Is there anything better than a festival to make merry and have fun? Indians have the joys of celebrating a number of festivals throughout the year where people come together to indulge in celebrations. However, there is more to a festival than the spirit of celebration; most have meaning and symbolism behind them. Dussehra is one such festival.
Myths Underlying The Festival of Dussehra
India is a nation of myths and superstitions. These myths and legends are so engraved in people’s lives that they are no longer even questioned. The celebration of Dussehra is said to be associated with two myths – one relating to Lord Ram and the other to Goddess Durga.
According to the great Hindu epic Ramayana, Lord Ram killed Ravana who was a dictating ruler and had abducted Ram’s wife Sita, on this day thereby signifying the triumph of good over evil. He was a demon by birth, so the end of Ravana meant the end of evil and bad spirit.
The festival of Dussehra is also known as Durga Puja in the eastern part of India. This is because of the second myth associated with this day. According to this myth, it was on this day that the demon Mahisasura was killed by Goddess Durga. Thus, this day is a celebration of the victory of the Goddess.
