Vijayadasami (a.k.a Dussehra, Dasara) is a festival celebrated all over India. The festival falls on the tenth day of the bright half (waxing moon) of the Hindu month of Aswiyuja. The festivities last 10 days and Dasara marks the culmination of the festival. It is also referred to as Navaratri. Basically, the legend, as it is in the case of most of the festivals, comprises the victory of Good over Evil. It is also regarded as an auspicious occasion to start new ventures in any field.
The festival of Navaratri comes to a close with Vijayadasami. It is in celebration of the victory of Goddess Durga, also known as Mahishasura Mardini, who defeated the buffalo demon Mahishasura. This event is believed to have taken place close to today's Mysore in the state of Karnataka.
However, in Northern India, the same 10-day festival is in celebration of the victory of Lord Rama, prince of Ayodhya over Ravana, the king of Lanka. Ravana abducted Sita, wife of Rama and held her captive in Lanka. Lord Rama, with the help of Hanuman, Sugreeva, the monkey king of Kishkindha, builds a bridge over the sea and travels to Lanka and kills Ravana in the ensuing battle and takes Sita back with him.
There is another legend associated with this festival. It is in the Mahabharata. Having lost the dice game, Pandavas were banished by the Kauravas for 12 years. They lived in forest during that period. There was the stipulation that they had to remain incognito during that period and in case they were found, they had to spend another 12 years in the forests. At that time, in order not to get exposed, they had to lay aside their divine and powerful weapons. They concealed their weapons in a 'shami' tree close to the place of their residence. At the end of every year, they came to the 'shami' tree and found their weaponry intact, worshipped the tree and Goddess Durga, the presiding deity.
The Kauravas were making every attempt to trace Pandavas so that they could be sent away to the forests once again. By the time Kauravas found them, it was past the stipulated time and Pandavas went to the 'shami' tree, collected their weapons and went straight to the battle field to fight the Kauravas. The day these events take place is dasami (tenth day) and as the Pandavas were victorious, it was also referred to as Vijayadasami. The word 'Vijaya' in Sanskrit means victory. It is for this reason that people exchange leaves from the shami tree and hug each other on the day of Vijayadasami.
On Vijayadasami day, people worship their weapons as it is supposed to be the most auspicious day to do so. Machines, motors and tools that people use to carry out their respective trades and occupations are worshipped as they provide livelihood and bring prosperity to people and society. Vehicles are decorated colorfully on that day and people wear new clothes and exchange greetings. It is also the time to exchange gifts. Companies and businesses declare bonus to their employees during Dasara.
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