Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is one of the many symbolic festivals in the Hindu calendar and holds great significance, as well as bringing a wave of spirituality around the world.
The word “Dussehra” consists of two Hindi words “dus” ( meaning the number 10 ) and “hara” ( meaning annihilation ).
This marks the time when Lord Rama ( a Hindu god ) defeated the ten-headed Ravana ( a demon-king ), hence, symbolising the victory of righteousness over evil.
The festival is for one day and falls anytime in the month of October, depending on the Hindu calendar.
This year in 2024, Dussehra was on Saturday 12th of October, and it was celebrated one day after on the 13th at the Manor.
Bhaktivedanta Manor hosts several events and Hindu festivals throughout the year, Dussehra being one held annually.
In the morning, there were activities for children such as making rangolis and adding decorations, which created a vibrant atmosphere.
Later on in the day, there was the main celebration where a model of the Ravana was set ablaze - showing how good always defeats evil.
In addition, there were also fireworks which added a pop of colour to the sky and emphasised the triumph of light and hope over darkness.
Nistha Dubey, a member of the community, was a part of the celebration and stated “ I look forward to Dussehra every year - especially decorating the Manor and making rangolis. Dussehra is a very meaningful festival for me and always reminds me to be genuine. ”
Dussehra is a festival that presents the power of righteousness and importance of moral integrity in South Asian culture. It is a day of unity and victory, intriguing many and bringing together multitudes of communities and traditions.
