India is known to be a land of cultures, traditions and colorful festivals. There are different festivals celebrated in each state of the country and even states have different ways of celebrating the same festival as well. People visit India to see and learn the true meanings of diversity. One of the major festivals celebrated in India is Dussehra or Vijayadashami in the month of October. As per Hindu mythology, Dussehra has many mystic tales associated with its celebration but the most popular belief is the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana also signifying the victory of good over evil.  This festival is celebrated all over India with full pump and enthusiasm.

Here is a list of some places in the country which celebrate Dussehra in the greatest spirits. Places to visit to witness the Best Dussehra Celebrations in 2019 include.

Kolkata is popularly known as the Dussehra capital of the country. People from all over India visit Kolkata to witness the worshipping of goddess Durga. There are many reasons behind the pump in Durga Pooja celebration here-It is not a mere festival for Bengali’s, it’s the homecoming of goddess Durga and they celebrate it with full joy and happiness. There are unique rituals which you can only witness in Kolkata during this time, like women in traditional Lal Paar Sarees which represents the beauty and power of a woman.

Special Bengali cuisines prepared during this time are also famous everywhere in the country, specially ‘Roshogulla’. Everything is grand, including the decorations- every pandal has different decorations as per themes on different social uprisings.

Kullu Dussehra is one of the much-awaited festival not only for Indians but for people outside the country too. The centre of this festival is the Dhalpur Maidan. The festival starts with the pooja of Lord Raghunath. Then all the deities across the town are carried on a rath by the Worshipper’s to the Maidan. On the 5th or 6th day of Dussehra celebration, a gathering of all the village devtas takes place. On the last day, a huge bonfire is lit in which a lamb, a rooster, a fish, a crab and a buffalo are sacrificed. The Kullu Dussehra celebration is different from Dussehra celebrations anywhere else and thus is to be must witnessed event.

In Mysuru, Dussehra is celebrated from over the last 400 years. It is all known as ‘Nadahabba’ in Karnataka. According to the Indian mythology, Karnataka was ruled by a buffalo- headed demon called Mahishasura. He used to punish people for worshiping other gods. Then goddess Parvati was incarnated as Chamundeshwari on earth. She fought a battle with Mahishasura and killed him at the top of the Chamundi hill. And this 10-day festival is celebrated in the respect of goddess Chamundeshwari and in celebration of her victory. Dussehra celebration in Mysuru is famous for its Royal Darbar, Jamboo Sawari and Dasara exhibition.

Gujrat’s Dussehra is incomplete without Navratri. Navratri means ‘Nine- Nights’, each night is dedicated to one of the nine forms of Goddess Durga. The nine forms of Goddess Durga are Shailaputri Maa, Bharmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalratri,Maha Gauri and Siddhidatri. According to the different fables in the culture, it is believed that the Goddess Adhya Shakti fought with demon Mahishasur for nine days which are celebrated as ‘Navratri’ and on the tenth day she beheaded him and that day is celebrated as ‘Vijay Dashmi’.

Apart from traditions there is one thing Gujarat Dussehra is famous for, and that’s ‘Garba’ and ‘Dandiya’. In Navratri, after aarti in evening, people start Garba and one gets to hear the sound of sticks, music and dhols all night long. Garba is a dance form in which people moves in a synchronized circular motion with particular steps. this represents the Gujarati culture specifically. The celebration attracts a big lot of people with its amazing music and outfits.

In Delhi, Dussehra or Navratri is all about Ramleela. In every major location of Delhi, you will witness big pandals and melas. People in Delhi wait for these melas throughout the year as this is the most happening and festive time of all. The pandal’s are being organized by different organizations for showing people ‘The Ramleela’. In the Ramleela, the actors represent ‘The Ramayana’ in a dramatic way on stage in a span of 10 days. On the last day the Ramleela ends. But that’s the most interesting part that in Delhi. As there’s a tradition of burning tower effigies of Ravana, Meghanad and Kumbhkaran to the ground yet representing the victory of good over evil.

The Bastar Dussehra has to do nothing with Lord Rama or Goddess Durga. In Bastar, Dussehra is celebrated for 75 days and it’s the longest festival in the world. This festival is celebrated mainly by the tribal people of Chhattisgarh and show casts their devotion towards Goddess Danteshwari. Old legends say that the goddess helped the non- tribal king there and in return took a promise from him to not look back or she’d not help him. After some time, the king looked back to search for the goddess. The goddess stopped there and the king built her temple at the same spot.

The most interesting part is their customs is the fact that they are totally different and beyond the imagination of a person who is living in a city. They use their sacred instruments in everything like dance, magic, music, games, etc.

Ganga Dussehra in Varanasi is one of the major Hindu festivals as this is celebrated in  admiration of the river Ganga. It is celebrated to appreciate the journey of River Ganga from heaven to earth and for being thankful to her for staying on earth and nourishing the planet with the holy water.

In Varanasi, Ganga Dussehra is celebrated in a very unique way as people bath in the river before evening aarti and after aarti they put earthen lamps in the river water for them to flow. Fairs are held at the river banks. People gather together and sing devotional songs. The place attracts a lot of tourists and develops spirituality in them in a setting as such.

Kulasekarapattinam is a small town in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu. Here, Dussehra or Dasara is celebrated at a very grand way. As per the customs and traditions of the temple, the devotees are asked to think and imagine themselves as one of the gods and they in fact enter a state where they believe that they are the actual almighty. They perform dance terrifyingly and this trance ends with a dip in the sea. Such an unusual experience is worth a devotee’s time.

We have observed the Dussehra celebrations from all over India now and every place has something different to offer. Cuttack’s Dussehra is also known for its special ambience. Cuttack, also known as ‘the silver city’, has the idols of Goddess Durga decorated with gold and silver. It is not just the idols but the pandals that are also decorated with silver tableaux which creates a different kind of dazzle. The festival of Durga Puja lasts for ten days which is full of enjoyment and enthusiasm. The immersion ceremony of the idol of Goddess Durga is also one of the largest carnivals in Orissa.

Here are thus the best places brought to your notice for you to easily plan your Dussehra long weekend gateway to any of them. Happy Dussehra in advance peeps.♥️.

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9 Destinations to Experience the Best Dussehra Celebrations in 2019

Kolkata, West Bengal

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