One festival that I vividly remember in my trip to India is Dusshera. Interestingly, or fortunately, the fest felled in the tenure of my visit to India. There are quite a few number of festivals that are close to Indian people heart and Dusshera is one of them.

Dusshera or Vijay Dashmi is celebrated with great joy and festivity for 10 continuous days during the month of September or October.

As I collected more information about Dusshera, I came to know some unique characteristics about the festival. It is interesting to note that the festivals is celebrated in a different manner all over India. The festival is celebrated with intense zeal, in West Bengal and Bengalis nationwide, in the form of Durga Puja. The festivities commence on the first night in the month of September-October. In Gujarat, the evenings and nights are occasions for the fascinating Garba dance. The women dance around an earthen lamp while singing devotional songs accompanied by rhythmic clapping of hands. Dusshera of Kota and Kullu are quite famous and are popular for their peculiar celebration.

As I scrolled through slew of websites, I came to know that the occasion marks the triumph of Lord Rama ( Indian God) over the demon king, Ravana. The fest symbolizes the victory of good over evil. In fact, I also saw Ramlilla, a song drama presentation of Ramayana. In Delhi, the show is hosted on Ram Leela ground.

It was fabulous to see brilliantly decorated tableaux and processions depicting various facets of Rama's life. On the tenth day, called the Vijayadasmi day, colossal effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhkarna and son Meghnad are placed in vast open spaces. Rama, an actor, accompanied by his consort Sita and his brother Lakshmana, arrive and shoot arrows of fire at these effigies, which are stuffed with explosive material. The result is a deafening blast, enhanced by the shouts of gaiety and triumph from the spectators.

It was a delight for me to be a part of a festival like Dusshera as it gave me an insight to Indian culture.