Buzz
Recognized as “the day of victory”, Dussehra marks the culmination of Navratri, the Hindu festival dedicated to the goddess Durga. Typically falling in October, it sets the stage for Diwali preparations, which commence 20 days later. Embrace the Dussehra spirit at home by adorning with dolls and colorful patterns, cherishing moments with loved ones, and paying homage to the religious essence of the occasion.
Guidelines
Adorning Your Living Space
Purge your entire household through thorough vacuuming, mopping, and decluttering. In Indian tradition, a clean abode is believed to emanate positive vibes and beckon the deities. During Dussehra, sanitize all surfaces and windows using cleaning agents or wipes.
- Pay special attention to cleaning your prayer room if you have one. Eliminate dust and grime from a metal Durga idol by gently scrubbing with baking soda sprinkled on a damp cloth. Polish the metal in small circular motions.
- Exercise caution by wearing gloves while handling strong cleaning chemicals and ensuring they are out of reach of children and pets.
- Avoid exhaustion by allocating 30 minutes daily for tidying up in the week leading to the festival.
- Keep your floors pristine by refraining from wearing shoes inside your home during Dussehra.
Create a rangoli using vibrant powder at your house entrance. Utilize rangoli powder, rice flour, or sand. Clear the area of dirt and then design by pinching and sprinkling the powder with your thumb and pointer finger, whether it's a depiction of goddess Durga or a geometric pattern. The key is to use bright colors to welcome happiness into your home.
- Experiment with materials! Besides powder, incorporate tea leaves, spices like turmeric or cumin, flower petals, or pasta.
- Traditionally, the area where the rangoli is placed is coated with cow dung before drawing.
- Rangoli translates to “rows of colors” in Sanskrit and aims to attract wealth and prosperity.
- Rangoli powder is available online or in stores like Walmart.
Illumine your surroundings with
diyas and string lights. Diyas are small clay oil lamps often positioned around the edge of a rangoli or in a prayer room. Additionally, adorn your home interior with LED light strands. Not only do these lights add to the festive atmosphere, but they also symbolize the presence of good (light) and the absence of evil (darkness).
- The oil in the diya represents human sins. Lighting the diya signifies the purification of sins.
- You can purchase a diya from specialty stores or online retailers.
Organize dolls on a 9-tiered platform symbolizing the nights of Navaratri. Every Dussehra, households exhibit bommala koluvu, showcasing various dolls representing the goddesses Lakshmi, Parvati, and Saraswati. Begin by covering the platform with a light-colored cloth, then arrange the dolls on each tier according to their themes.
- Steps 1 to 3: Place deities on the top 3 tiers.
- Steps 4 to 6: These tiers are for saints, demi-gods, and royalty.
- Step 7: Arrange dolls depicting Hindu festivals and celebrations.
- Step 8: Include dolls representing daily life scenes like a family meal or street vendor.
- Step 9: Reserve this tier for figurines showcasing human evolution.
- You can find various display platforms online or at hobby stores.
Engaging in Religious Customs
Fabricate a miniature Ravan using craft materials such as paper and paint. Ravan, the demon king, is commemorated on Dussehra. Craft his image on paper, paint a portrait, or construct a 3D model using materials like toilet paper rolls, popsicle sticks, or foam balls.
- Ravan is depicted with 10 heads, representing human emotions like anger, jealousy, and greed. Drawing one head and photocopying it can simplify the craft.
- You can also buy a Ravan effigy online.
Symbolize the triumph of good over evil by burning your Ravan effigy. In Mysore, Ravan effigies are traditionally incinerated with fireworks. However, for a safer alternative at home, ignite the image in a fireplace or with a lighter.
- Dussehra commemorates Lord Rama's defeat of Ravan, often depicted through dramatic performances. Encourage children to understand the story and create their own play at home.
- The burning of Ravan is a prevalent ritual in Northern India.
Pay homage to tools or implements symbolizing prosperity. Any item associated with wealth and prosperity is cleaned and worshipped on Dussehra. This could range from a vehicle to stationery items to agricultural tools. Perform a ritual by polishing the item and offering a prayer over it. Some Indians also conduct pujas for their weapons.
- Weapons are revered on this day as instruments to combat evil.
- After cleaning their possessions, some Hindus draw auspicious symbols on them using aipun, rice, and roli.
Embracing Enjoyable Customs
Dress in new attire to welcome the promise of 10 new outfits. According to Hindu belief, wearing unworn clothes on Dussehra assures the receipt of ten new garments in the upcoming year. Opt for vibrant and colorful attire for added auspiciousness.
- During the festival, gold jewelry is prevalent as gold is considered the metal of the gods.
- Women typically don sarees adorned with vibrant hues, while men opt for kurtas and sherwanis. Select fabrics featuring intricate borders and embroideries to capture the festive essence.
Prepare a lavish feast featuring traditional Indian cuisine and sweets. Extend invitations to relatives and friends for a delightful gathering featuring Mysore delicacies such as masala dosa (Indian crepes), luchis (fried flatbreads), or rava idli (steamed semolina cakes). And no feast is complete without an array of sweets, which can be shared with loved ones or offered as offerings to the deities.
- Sweets hold significance on Indian festivals as they are believed to bring good fortune.
- Popular Dussehra sweet treats include besan ladoos, badam halwa, and kheer khas khas. You can also try your hand at homemade peda for an authentic touch of Indian cuisine.
Share apta leaves with loved ones as a symbol of wealth. Historically, warriors returning from battles presented valuable offerings to deities and elders. Today, this tradition persists among Hindus, who exchange leaves from the apta tree as a substitute for precious metals.
- These leaves are typically gifted from younger individuals to the elderly.
- Apta trees are rare, so acquiring the leaves may necessitate purchasing them online.
