Dussehra and Durga Puja

Festivals of India, October 8th, 2024
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The Story of Dussehra and Durga Puja: Celebrating Courage and Kindness

Long ago, in a magical kingdom, there lived a brave prince named Rama. He had a kind heart and always helped others. Rama had a beautiful wife, Sita, and a loving brother, Lakshmana. Everything was perfect until one day, the evil ten-headed demon king, Ravana, captured Sita and took her far away to his kingdom in Lanka.

Rama was determined to bring Sita back, so he, along with Lakshmana and their monkey friend, Hanuman, gathered an army of animals to fight Ravana. After a fierce battle, Rama finally defeated Ravana with his mighty bow and arrow. The day he won is called Dussehra, a celebration of how goodness and bravery always win over evil.

But did you know that around the same time, another wonderful celebration happens called Durga Puja?

The Story of Durga Puja: The Battle of the Goddess Durga

Once upon a time, there was a terrible demon named Mahishasura. He was half-human and half-buffalo and caused lots of trouble in the world. The gods tried to stop him, but he was too powerful! In their time of need, they called upon the mighty warrior goddess, Durga. She rode a fierce lion and was armed with magical weapons given to her by the gods.

Durga fought a long and powerful battle with Mahishasura. Finally, on the tenth day, she defeated him, bringing peace and happiness back to the world. This victory is celebrated as Durga Puja, a time when people worship Goddess Durga and thank her for protecting them from evil.

How People Celebrate Dussehra and Durga Puja in India

People celebrate these two festivals with so much fun, color, and happiness!

  1. Dussehra Celebrations:
    • On Dussehra, people put on big shows called Ramlila, where actors dress up as Rama, Sita, and Ravana and tell the story of their epic battle. Huge statues of Ravana are made, filled with fireworks, and set on fire! When the statues burn and explode with bright lights, everyone cheers because it means evil is defeated.
    • Families visit fairs, eat delicious sweets like jalebi and ladoos, and wear colorful clothes. The streets are full of joy, laughter, and fun rides.
  2. Durga Puja Celebrations:
    • In many parts of India, especially in the east, people build beautiful pandals (decorated tents) with statues of Goddess Durga, where she is seen riding her lion, fighting Mahishasura. Families come together to pray, offer flowers, and sing songs for the goddess.
    • There are lots of delicious foods to eat, music to enjoy, and everyone wears their finest clothes. On the last day, people take the statue of Goddess Durga to the river and let it float away, saying goodbye until next year, when she will return to protect them again.

What We Learn from Dussehra and Durga Puja

Both Dussehra and Durga Puja teach us important lessons:

  • Dussehra teaches us that no matter how strong evil may seem, courage, love, and kindness will always win, just like Rama defeated Ravana.
  • Durga Puja teaches us to be brave and fearless like Goddess Durga, who fought to protect the world from harm.

Together, these festivals remind us to always stand up for what is right, help others, and celebrate goodness in the world!

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Manish Pushkar Jha
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