The Dussehra festival, which immortalises the victory of good over evil, may appear to be the exciting culmination of Navratri or Durga Puja. However, it holds great importance and is marked by distinct customs that vary across different regions of India.
Sputnik India brings to you some fascinating rituals related to the extraordinary festival of Dussehra.
Visarjan of Idol
Dussehra or Vijayadashmi is a significant occasion for the Bengali community throughout India, as they joyfully bid farewell to the revered Goddess Durga, marking the culmination of the vibrant Durga Puja festivities.
Multitudes of devotees participate in a grand procession featuring magnificent tableaus of Goddess Durga and her children, Ganesha and Kartik, which are installed in pandals, or makeshift tents, starting from the sixth day of the Navratri.
As the idol of Goddess Durga is carried to be immersed in the Ganges or a nearby or pond, people engage in playing the drums, singing, and chanting in praise.
The ritual signifies the return of the Goddess Durga, accompanied by her children, to Lord Shiva's adobe on Mount Kailash.
Navratri
© AP Photo / Mahesh Kumar A
Sindur Khela
On the day of Dussehra before visarjan of the idols of the Goddess Durga, all married women, especially from the Bengali community, perform a ritual called Sindur Khela (playing with the vermilion) in which they put vermilion (sindoor) on each other.
The sindur khela ritual is believed to bring marital bliss into their lives.
A Hindu devotee dressed as the Hindu Goddess Devi takes part in Sindur Khela rituals before immersion of the Goddess Durga on the last day of 'Durga Puja' festival in Mumbai on October 5, 2022.
© AFP 2023 SUJIT JAISWAL
Vidyarambam
In the southern states of India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala, Vijayadashami is celebrated as Vidyarambam, an auspicious day that signifies the initiation of education.
This day holds special importance for young children as they embark on their journey of learning traditional art forms such as music and dance.
Devotees dedicate themselves to Goddess Saraswati, revered as the deity of knowledge and learning, with deep honour. They worship essential study materials like books, pens, pencils, as well as musical instruments on this significant day.
Teeka
In North India, sisters perform the teeka ceremony by putting vermilion (sindoor) on their brother's forehead, just like in Bhai Dooj festival.
This ceremony signifies the blessings of the Goddess Durga.
Some people also host a grand feast for son-in-laws and daughters.
Ram Leela
Several communities across India hold Ram Leela, a stage play by actors re-enacting some of the key episodes from the life of Lord Rama, and his victory over the ten-headed demon king of Lanka, Ravana, as per the epic Ramayana.
Several devotees gather to see the climax of Ram Leela in which effigies of Ravana, his son Meghnad, and his brother Kumbhakarna, are burnt as a mark of defeating evil.
The celebration is further amplified by the explosive display of fire-crackers, and an awe-inspiring spectacle of the festivities.