Dasara
Dasara is celebrated allover India with a lot of fanfare and religious fervor. A religious as well as a social festival, Dasara is an occasion for pujas and festivities like music, dance and cultural programmes. In Southern India, especially in TamilNadu, Dasara is celebrated as Navarathiri.
Navarathiri means nine nights.
Navarathiri Subarathiri as an old movie song goes, signifies a very auspicious period.
Mythology
According to Hindu mythology, a very powerful Asura-demon king Mahishasuran prayed to the almighty and asked for a boon that his death should at the hands of a woman and by no other human being or any form of living being.
On being granted his wish, he started inflicting atrocities on all human beings on the earth. He considered himself to be immortal as he thought that it was impossible for a woman or any female form of a human being to be powerful enough to kill him.
When his cruelty became unbearable, people prayed to Sakthi the consort of Lord Shiva to save them from the demon and to provide them with salvation. Sakthi then took the form of Durga and slayed the demon.
In Southern India, the festival of Navaratri which culminates with Vijayadashami commemorates the legend in which the Goddess Durga, also known as Chamundeshwari or Mahishasura Mardini, vanquishes the demon Mahishasura, an event that is said to have taken place in the vicinity of the present day city of Mysore in Karnataka. Goddess Durga fought with Mahishasura for nine nights, and killed him on the evening of the tenth day, or the day of Vijaya Dashami. Hence this day is celebrated as the day of victory to rejoice about Durga’s triumph over the demons led by Mahishasura.
Vijayadashami is also the day of the Goddess Saraswati,the deity of knowledge and learning. People worship weapons and vehicles on this day. It is an auspicious occasion for children to commence their education in classical dance and music, and to pay respect to their teachers.
Mysore of Karnataka is synonymous with the Dusserah festival where it is celebrated with great pomp and glory since centuries. Mysore Dussehra festivities have become an integral part of the culture and life in Mysore so much that Dusserah has become the state festival of Karnataka.
During the ten day long Dasara festivities the city buzzes with tremendous activity. House, shops and important buildings in the city are decorated and illuminated for the period for the celebrations. The well-known musicians of Karnataka and from other regions perform in front of the illuminated Palace. The Royal Palace of Mysore is open to the public and the royal throne is displayed. The State Government arranges music, dance, doll shows and folk dance performances.
