Birthday of Sri Guru Ramdas Ji

Children’s world
Dasehra
Victory of Good over Evil
D
asehra, also
called Vijayadashmi,
falls on October
22. It is the culmination
of the nine-day Navaratri
celebrations. It is a festival
that marks the killing of
Ravan, his son Meghnad
and brother Kumbhakaran,
by Ram. It is seen as the
victory of good over evil.
The epic Ramayana, describes
the story of Ram,
the exiled prince of the
kingdom of Ayodhya.
While in exile, he lived in
the forest with his wife Sita and
brother Lakshman. One day Sita
was abducted by Ravan, the demon
king of Lanka. Ram, assisted by an
army of monkeys and Lakshman,
attacked Lanka to rescue her.
A fierce battle ensued between
the two armies for many days. Ram
found it very difficult to beat the
mighty Ravan. So he prayed for
nine days to nine different aspects
of goddess Durga and accumulated
enough strength to defeat Ravan.
Dasehra celebrates Ram’s victory
over Ravan in a festival spread
out over 10 days. The story of
Ram’s life is enacted in a folk art
form called Ramlila. Every nook
and corner has its own Ramlila,
with millions of actors enacting it
during Dasehra. Conventionally,
only men participated in the
Ramlila, but now women, too, have
started acting in them.
The 10th day is one of fireworks.
The final act of this drama
is staged. Huge paper effigies
stuffed with firecrackers, sometimes
almost 100 ft high, of Ravan,
his son and brother, are set ablaze.
At the appointed hour, a person
dressed as Ram, shoots flaming arrows
at the effigies, which start to
burn.
The Dasehra of Kulu
Although Dussehra is celebrated
all over India, in certain
parts the celebrations are especially
interesting. Kulu, a small town in
Himachal Pradesh, is witness to
unique Dussehra celebrations.
Since the times of Maharaja Ranjit
Singh, who ruled Punjab (which
also consisted of parts of Himachal
Pradesh), more than 150
years ago, Dussehra celebrations
here begin three
days after they do in the rest
of the country.
This is so because the
powerful Maharaja expected
all kings who paid
him homage, to be present
at Kulu for the celebrations.
These rulers would leave
immediately after the celebrations
in their kingdoms
had ended, and head to
Kulu. Since it took them
three days to reach, this
practice was established and has
continued ever since.
The lives of the hills people are
full of fascinating myths that connect
the existence of their very
human gods to the natural surroundings
— beautiful and harsh
alternately. At times like Dussehra,
then, if the humans celebrate,
wouldn’t the gods rejoice too and
have their annual reunion?
Village deities from all around
are brought to Kulu in palanquins.
The procession is led by musicians
and dancers. A large fair is also organised
on this occasion.
This is a good opportunity for
people to buy and stock their provisions
for the harsh winter ahead,
as most places become inaccessible
due to snow within a month of the
festival.
Punjab Advance
August 2015
47