| Dassera |
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During Winter the popular Dassera
festival is celebrated. It lasts for ten days.
Like everybody else, Indians love celebrations and festivals.
Most of the festivals in India are linked to the agricultural
calendar. Many are actually harvest festivals or those
signifying a change in the season. Each region has its own
local festivals, besides the all India ones. One important
festival celebrated all over India is Dasara , or Dassera. It
is also called Nava ratri or nine nights festival.
The origin of this festival is not clearly known, but it would
appear its roots reach back to staggeringly ancient times. It
is essentially a mother goddess celebration. Traces of this
festival are seen all the world over although they may be
hidden under some other layers. Essentially it is a sort of
thanksgiving to Nature in various forms.
Legends
There are many legends connected with Dasara. As one legend
goes, eons ago humans were not very prominent as they are now.
Non human beings called Devas " Shining ones" (
resembling the gods of ancient Greece) were rivals of another
group of beings called Asuras. Now some of the Asuras were
very
powerful and ambitious, and continually plotted to defeat the
Gods and take their place . In one episode , an Asura called
Mahisha, who looked like a buffalo, grew very powerful .
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Under his
leadership the Asuras even defeated the Devas , all of
whom were powerless including Brahma, Vishnu, etc.
Finally, when the world was reeling under Mahisha
asura's tyranny, the Devas came together. Each
contributed their individual energy to form a single
mass of incandescent energy . |
Energy in Indian languages is
called Shakti. This Shakti coalesced in the form of a radiant
young virgin (Durga). She took on Mahisha and the battle raged
for nine days and nights. Finally on the tenth day the evil
demon Mahisha was defeated. Durga is said to ride on a lion,
who assisted her in destroying Mahisha. The power of the
mother goddess is symbolised by ten hands and many weapons. (Mahisha
preferred to use a club).
Since the tale obviously narrates the eventual triumph of good
over evil, it has been very popular down the ages.
Durga is the prehistoric mother goddess. In fact under the
rustic celebrations and rituals lies a sophisticated view of
the cosmos, which is articulated quite clearly even by simple
villagers. Durga, or Shakti, synonymous with energy, is none
other than the great power of Nature, which brings to birth,
nourishes, preserves and at the appropriate time, merges
everything back in herself. Anyone into ecology and
environment can immediately get the point of Dasara.
For nine days and nights, the festival is celebrated. Shrines
are cleaned up and services are performed. Open air stages are
usually erected and a variety of entertainments enlivens the
cool nights. In many parts of the country, notably Bengal,
Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, clay idols
depicting Durga finishing off the wicked demon Mahisha are
installed . After the celebrations are over on the 10th day
the idols are ceremonially taken to the nearest river, beach,
lake or even well and immersed into the waters.
Pooja in Bengal
Particularly in Bengal the "Durga pooja"
celebrations are mammoth in scale. Each locality, ward, or
organisation sets up its own pandal -- an enclosure, which is
visited by thousands . In the evenings the fun starts with
various cultural programs like plays, orchestras, dance shows
and the like being staged. On each day the legends are
recited, incense and lighted camphor are waved in front of the
statues, bouquets and garlands of fresh flowers and placed. In
some areas, goats are ritually sacrificed. This however is
gradually becoming less popular. Nowadays coconuts or pumpkins
are ritually broken instead.
Aayudha Pooja
On the eighth day, Aayudha Pooja is celebrated. Aayudha means
weapons. Everybody brings out their implements and ritually
give respect to the tools by which they make their living.
Farmers place ploughshares and sickles : soldiers used to
shine their swords and decorate them ( now they they polish
their guns and rifles) : students bring their textbooks,
accountants their pens and erasers while blacksmiths polish
their hammers. Nowadays factory workers festoon their machines
with flowers and sprinkle yellow turmeric rice and red ochre
powder. Bus drivers gaily decorate their vehicles with green
branches and orange flowers. In some computer bureaus the
terminals are daubed discreetly with turmeric and red ochre. A
plate with a bit of burning camphor is lit and waved in the
air. Everyone pays their respects to the tools they use to
earn their daily bread. (A sort of prehistoric labor day or
May day)
Vijaya dashami
On the last day, called Vijaya Dashami, (the tenth day of
victory) big celebrations are held. Then a procession is taken
out to immerse the idols into the waters. Until some centuries
ago, it was traditional for armies to start their campaign on
Vijaya Dasami day. It is generally considered a very good day
to start any new venture.
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