6 of the Most Unique Dussehra Celebrations that will Evoke all Kinds of Festive Feels in You

India has always been a land of mythology, mysticism and legends where, always, the victory of good and the just has prevailed over darkness and the wicked. And there are many good anecdotes to establish this fact in the Hindu Itihaas, whether it be the story of Lord Krishna defeating Kansa or Lord Rama vanquishing the demon king Ravana.

Perhaps, there won’t be any other country apart from India where one can find such a rich blend of cultures, rituals, festivals, and traditions imbibed to the core of its people's hearts. And that is what our epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana also depict - our glorious ancient past. 

Talking about festivals, the upcoming festival of Dussehra means different things to different people. Yes, on this auspicious day some people fast, and there are many people, specifically children who like to visit and enjoy the Dussehra melas (fairs), seeing the Raavan effigy burning down to the ground in the holy fire.

Let’s discover some of the most unique ways in which the festival of Dussehra is celebrated in our country.

#1. Durga Puja, Kolkata

On this pious occasion, one can see the whole city light up in the fervour of godly excitement. At many places, decorated pandals, artistic idols of the Goddess Durga and fancy light decorations can also be seen. There are even many cultural performances by the local people.

Goddess Durga is worshipped with great splendour to the drumming of the dhaks (a drum-like instrument). And during the puja ceremony, watching the white clouds of holy incense filling up the air makes the whole atmosphere come very lively. A great number of people can be seen getting inside the pandals and relishing on the delicious foods. Also, the married women smear sindoor on each other for the welfare and long lives of their husbands.

#2. Mysore Dasara, Mysuru

What makes Mysore Dasara really unique is the fact that on this occasion, the Mysore Palace is lit with 1,00,000 lights for an entire month. Yes, the festival of Dussehra is treated with a lot of prominence in Mysore. And it is owing to the same sentiment that the palace is decorated with such enthusiasm. This festival also showcases elephant processions in which the animals are richly decorated.

The purpose of this procession is to showcase the grandeur and splendour of the Mysore city. On this day, the Goddess Chamudeshwari is typically worshipped on a golden Ambari which is a golden palanquin like structure. The food stalls, shopping options and various other activities make Mysore Dussehra a really interesting option for celebrating Dussehra in a different and unique style.

#3. Mangalore Dasara, Mangalore

Just imagine seeing young men dressed up as tigers and dancing with great fervour in the local streets. This is how the festival of Dasara is celebrated in the city of Mangalore. Yes, the traditional dance forms like Tiger dance and the Bear dance are some of the major attractions of Mangalore Dussehra.

On this day young males dress themselves up as tigers and are accompanied by a band of drummers spilling the magic with their performances. During these processions, the idols of Navdurgas, Ganapathi and Goddess Sharda are also carried to seek blessings.

#4. Andhra Pradesh Vijaydashmi

In Andhra Pradesh, the festival of Dussehra is celebrated in its own unique style. The women folk participate in ceremonies like Lalita Sahasranaama and Kumkuma Archana puja rituals, essentially for the well-being of their husbands. 

Vijaywada witnesses the celebrations by worshipping Kanaka Durga at the Kanaka Durga temple on Indrakeeladri hill. And as the final day of the festival approaches, the Goddess is taken on a swan boat ride which is typically known as the Hamsa Vaahanam.

#5. Dussehra Celebrations in Gujarat

This is a time when men and women dance to the songs till the end of the night drenched in complete ecstasy. And especially, the previous nine nights of Navratri are an amazing combination of ghagras, dancing sticks, folk songs and people swaying in rhythmic bliss. After the puja ceremony of Ma Ambe, people look forward to nothing but revelry and enjoyment in the form of playing Dandia, Garba and devouring lip-smacking dishes.

#6. Dussehra Celebrations in Tamil Nadu

The highlight of this festival is that people dress up as Gods, Goddesses, beggars and even monkeys to beg for alms. Yes, all of this happens in Kulasekarapattinam, which is essentially an adorable little village. And during the Dussehra time, it comes alive with hundreds of devotees flocking inside the Mutharamman temple.

As mentioned, many people get dressed as Gods, Goddesses, and other creatures to beg for alms. What is intriguing is that it is also considered as an important exercise for the purpose of teaching the life lesson of humbleness to the people. The whole atmosphere during this timeline comes across as a very powerful one with people drenched in godly grace.

The deity inside the temple is heavily adorned with flowers and is taken out on the processions. And on the tenth day which is Vijaydashmi, the Goddess is said to take the eternal form of Adi Parasakthi also known as Mahadevi, Parma Shakti, etc. Traditional dance forms such as Karagattam and Oliyattam are performed with great enthusiasm during the festival of Dussehra. 

So, with this, our list of unique Dussehra celebrations has come to an end. Hope this post was full of new and intriguing insights for you. If this festive season, you plan to explore any of these celebrations, then do consider planning on your itinerary using Adotrip's Tour planner tool.