India is a land of festivals. The most unique thing about the country is each state celebrates the festivals in its own way. They have their own set of rituals and rules to follow and make the festivals vivid and lively.
If you ever want to travel during the time of the Dussehra post-COVID, the Crazy Creatives have few suggestions for you all.
1. Mysore - Mysore is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. One can visit this place any time of the year but during Dussehra, it’s even more special to visit. Dussehra is a 10-day long festival. People celebrate this festival in a grand way to honor Goddess Chamundeshwari’s victory over Mahishasura. These celebrations are lead by the royal family of Mysore. The Mysore Palace is decorated with a myriad of lights. A grand exhibition is held every year during the festival. On the last day of the festival, an ornately dressed elephant carries a large idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari in a procession throughout the city.
2. Kolkata - Kolkata’s Durga Pooja celebrations are popular all over the country. If you plan to visit Kolkata then the Navratri-DurgaPooja period is the best time to visit. Wherever you go in the city, you will see pandals decorated in their own special way. This is the best time to savor the yummy Rasmalai, Rosogulla, Mishti Doi, and many more. One of the special attractions of the celebrations is the unique energetic dance performances during the aarti of Devi Maa. The last day of the festival is dedicated to all married women. Married women wear traditional sarees and participate in a ceremony called ‘sindoor khela’ where they smear each other's faces with sindoor.
3. Varanasi - If you are a fan of Ramleela activities, Varanasi is the best place to visit during this time. Ramnagar, a place near Varanasi has been organizing Ramleela for more than 200 years. This tradition was introduced by the King of Kashi. Every year during the festival a huge fair is organized. Talented artists perform skits on Lord Ram’s life. On Dussehra, a huge statue of Ravana is burnt to honor the victory of Lord Ram over him.
4. Kullu - Dussehra is a 7-day festival here. Every year a huge procession is organized and a large number of devotees participate in the procession carrying various idols of Gods and Goddesses on their heads and heading to the Raghunath temple. On the last day of Dussehra, on the banks of River Beas, people burn wood and fodder to symbolize the burning of Lanka. A beautiful fair is organized during the celebrations to honor the culture of Kullu state.
5. Bastar - Bastar is a place located in Chattisgarh. Here, Dussehra is celebrated for 75 long days. The festival is celebrated to honor Goddess Danteshwari, the main Goddess of Bastar’s tribal community. This festival is believed to be celebrated here since the 13th century. If you want to gain more knowledge about the tribal culture of the region, Dussehra is the best time to visit this place. A huge procession is organized where people from neighboring towns and villages bring their deities in chariots to the famous Danteshwari temple. The most unique part of the celebrations is the various rituals like worshipping wood, posting pillars, installing urns, etc. At the end of the festival, devotees bid goodbye to their deities through cultural music and traditional dance performances.
6. Bathukamma - Bathukamma is a popular floral festival celebrated mostly in Telangana. This festival starts on Mahalaya Amavasya and ends on Durgashtami. Bathukamma is a beautiful flower stack arranged with different seasonal flowers in seven concentric layers in the shape of temple gopuram. In Telugu, Bathukamma means ‘Mother Goddess come alive.' Goddess Parvati is worshipped in the form of Bathukamma. On this day, women wear beautiful sarees in their traditional way, sing songs, and dance around the flower stack.
Before summing up the thread, here's fun trivia for you all about the festival.
The word Dussehra is derived from the Sanskrit words ‘Dash Hara’ meaning defeat of the Sun.
According to Hindu scriptures, if Lord Ram hadn’t defeated Ravana, the sun would have never risen again.
In Tamil Nadu, the celebration of the festival is called Golu.
In Northern India, people sow barley seeds in earthen pots on the first day of Navratri. On Dussehra, the sprouts are used as a symbol of good luck and men place them in their caps or behind the ears.
It is also said that Goddess Durga visits the earth during Navratri and stays for few days. On Dussehra, she returns to LordShiva.
Dussehra also marks the end of the summer season and the arrival of the winter season.
Dussehra is also believed to be the day EmperorAsoka converted to Buddhism.
The Pandavas were believed to have returned to their homes in Hastinapur after 13 years of exile.
Credits:
Serpensortia | Minionite | Leprechaun
Edited by Yuvika_15 - 2 years ago
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