Dussehra
By: Lidia Avvakoumova, Andrea Chiu,
Donna Wang, Karissa Chan
What is Dussehra?
Celebrated in the month of
Avshina (September-October
period)
 Celebrates the victory of good
over evil
 Starts from Navrati (a nine-day
festival); the 10th day afterwards
is Dussehra

Origin of the Festival
Based on a popular Hindu epic called Ramayana:
 The demon Ravana abducts Sita, the wife of tenheaded Lord Rama
 Rama travels for 9 days to Ravana’s kingdom to
rescue Sita

Origin cont’d
On his way he seeks the blessings of Goddess
Durga
 He defeats Ravana on the 10th day, which is
celebrated as Dussehra

Did you know?
Dussehra comes from “Dus”
meaning “ten”, and “Hara”
meaning “annihilated”.
Festivities



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Celebrated by special prayers and puja of the deities
Communities host large parades and fairs with singing
and dancing.
On the 10th day of celebration effigies of Lord Ravana
are burned, the highlight of the festival.
Dussehra often marks a new journey in the lives of
Hindus
Special Dress
Women
Colorful saris, lehenga cholis, salwaar suits, as well as
flowers, jewellery and Tikka (red mark on forehead).
Special Dress
Vermillion (red) is worn by
married women
 Unmarried girls adorn
themselves with light
jewellery, bindis (forehead
jewellery) etc.

Special Dress
Men
Colourful traditional hindu clothing:
Sherwani, Lungi, Kurta
Colourful headdresses such as turbans
Food
It is customary to have traditional food
preparations.
 Common ones throughout India: Badam Kheer,
Besan Burfi, Moong Dal Halwa, Kachori, Jalebi,
Paneer Pakora, Radbi and Sandesh

Food Cont’d
The recipes and dishes have evolved over time
since the low-calorie/healthier versions are
more popular.
 Snacks eaten throughout the day
 Sweets and prasada are eaten after prayer and
when Ravana is burned.

Rituals
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9 days of celebrations during Dussehra
which mainly involve the puja of
Goddess Durga in homes and temples
Nine days and nights dedicated to
worshipping divine energy force and
power (given off by Durga)
Fasting, vegetarian diets, chanting
mantras and religious hymns, praying,
meditating and reciting of sacred texts
Rituals Cont’d
Community festivities have
singing, dancing,and dramatic reenactments of the tale
 Ramlila - a personification of the
life of Lord Rama. Huge paper or
wood effigies of 'Ravana', his son
'Meghnad' and brother
'Kumbhakarna' are set on fire on
the 10th day

THE END
Happy Dussehra!