Don’t you love the festive vibe that has taken over the country again? So are we. India is celebrating Dussehra or Vijayadashami 2022 with much fervor and enthusiasm as it is one of the major festivals celebrated across India. The Navratri festival begins on the first day of the bright half of Ashvin or Ashwayuja as per traditional Hindu calendar. The dates of the Sharad Navratri this year are from September 26 and end on October 4, which would be followed with Dussehra or Vijayadashami that falls on the tenth day which is the 5th of October. Being the land of festivals, India celebrates the occasion in different ways in different parts.
Some states celebrate Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasur, while Lord Rama’s triumph over Ravana the King of demons is celebrated in some states. However, victory of the good over the evil is the common purpose of celebrations all over the country. Here are top 9 places that witness best Navratri & Dussehra celebrations as part of India Tour Packages.
Kolkata, West Bengal
Durga Puja is one of the most famous festivals celebrated in West Bengal, particularly in Kolkata. It is a 5-day long cultural extravaganza starting from the 6th day till the 9th day during Navratri and the 10th day being the Durga Visarjan. It is believed that Goddess Durga visits her maiden home at this time of the year. The city is dotted with hundreds of different theme-based pandals where the life-size idols of Durga and other family members are worshiped for 5 days. Overcrowded streets, huge pandals, minarets, domes, mountain cliffs, and magnificent lighting make the 4 days of Durga Puja in Kolkata an unforgettable event. Though the festival ends with the immersion of idols on Vijayadashami, the celebration continues over the ceremony of exchanging warm greetings with near and dear ones, and the sweetening of mouths with bites of Rasagulla.
Most Popular Rajasthan Tours
Mysore, Karnataka
Dasara is the most famous and royal festival of Mysore and lasts for 10 days. Mysore Dasara also called as Nadahabba is the state festival of Karnataka. The main attraction of the 10 day Mysore Dasara festival is the Mysore Palace which is illuminated daily with nearly 100,000 light bulbs on all days of the festival and is among the must include in Mysore Tour Packages. On Vijayadashami, the traditional Dasara procession (locally known as Jumboo Savari) is held on the streets of Mysore city, among the best heritage places to visit near Bangalore.
According to Hindu Mythology, Goddess Durga slew the demon Mahishasur on Vijayadashami day. The main attraction of this procession is the idol of the Goddess Chamundeshwari which is placed on a golden mantapa on the top of a decorated elephant. Colorful tableaux, dance groups, music bands, decorated elephants, horses, and camels form a part of the procession.
The Dasara festivities would culminate on the night of Vijayadashami with an event held in the grounds at Bannimantap called as Panjina Kavayithu (torch-light parade). The entire city is illuminated with lights. Among the top places to experience Karnataka Tourism, Mysore is also home to Chamundi Hill Temple, Mysore Zoo, Brindavan Gardens, Somnathpura, Srirangapatna, and Sivanasamudra Falls.
Book Here: Car Rentals in Bangalore
Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
Kullu Dussehra is the renowned festival of Kullu Valley and is observed in October in Himachal Pradesh. It is celebrated in the Dhalpur Maidan in the Kullu Valley. It begins on Vijayadashami day and continues for seven days. The festivals celebrate the triumph of the Lord Rama over evil. Around 200 local deities including goddess Hadimba from Manali are brought ceremoniously to the Temple of Raghunathji during this time. The celebration comes to an end when a heap of wood and grass is set to fire on the bank of the Beas River on the last day. It symbolizes the burning of Lanka, an event in the Ramayana.
The State government has accorded the status of an International festival to the Kullu Dussehra which attracts more than 4-5 lakh people from different corners of the world. Kullu is one of the best places to celebrate Dussehra in India and also one of the well-known places to visit near Delhi. Naggar Castle, Bijli Mahadev Temple, Manali and Manikaran are the other top places to visit in Kullu as part of Himachal Tour Packages.
Also Read: 11 Most Romantic Honeymoon Destinations in India
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Ahmedabad, Gujarat is one of the best places to enjoy the 9 day celebration of Navratri. Dedicated to the nine aspects of Maa Shakti, devotees observe sunrise to sunset nine-day fast and fast-breaking rituals. The main highlight of the festivity of nine nights is the folk dance of Gujarat called Garba. Each day of the fiesta begins with the performance of aarti. People perform the Garba folk dance in GMDC Ground till late midnight and is a must-watch as part of Ahmedabad tour packages.
During this nine-day-long festivity, Ahmedabad city is beautifully decorated with colorful lights. On the eighth and ninth day of the Navratri festival, people offer prayers to Goddess Durga. The next day after the Navratri festival is Dussehra which is observed to celebrate the triumph of Lord Rama over the demon Ravana. One can also visit several tourist places in Ahmedabad as part of Gujarat tour packages.
Aslo Read: Most Popular Places to visit near Ahmedabad
Bastar, Chhattisgarh
The most important festival in Bastar is the Dussehra when all the deities from surrounding villages unite at the temple of Danteshwari in Jagdalpur, the district headquarters. Unlike Dussehra in other parts of India, here it is not linked with Rama. In Bastar, the tribes celebrate Dussehra as a congregation of Devi Mavli (Bastar’s native deity, revered as the elder sister of Devi Danteshwari), and all her sisters. Lasting over 75 days, Dussehra in Bastar begins on amavasya (dark moon) in the month of Shravan and ends on the 13th day of the bright moon in the month of Ashvin.
Dussehra celebrations in Bastar are unique in every way. The festival involves participation of all the major tribes of Bastar. Grand processions are carried out where all the idols of gods and goddesses from the nearby villages are brought to the temple of Danteshwari and are worshipped with great devotion. The main attraction of the holy procession is a double-decker chariot (rath). The tribal folks make the 2-ton heavy chariot using traditional tools. The festival involves rituals of extraordinary rigor like a girl swinging on a bed of thorns and a youth (jogi) sitting in vigil, buried shoulder-deep, for nine days.
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
Vijayadashami or Dussehra is one of the important festivals in Andhra Pradesh. This festival is celebrated with much fanfare in Vijayawada Kanaka Durga Temple. It is celebrated for 9 days and concludes on the 10th day of Vijayadashami. The 10 day long Dussehra festival starts at Sri Kanaka Durga Temple on the banks of River Krishna. The special attraction here is the chief deity Kanaka Durga Devi decorated in various forms (avatars) during the ten-day festival. The Alankaram of the day is chosen as per the astrological star of each day, in accordance with the lunar calendar. Vijayawada is one of the top places to visit near Hyderabad.
Special pujas are performed during Dussehra and the most significant are Saraswati puja and Theppotsavam. A large number of pilgrims attend the colourful celebrations and take a holy dip in the Krishna River. Along with Kanaka Durga Temple, Undavalli Caves, Kondapalli Fort, Mogalrajapuram Caves, Akkanna & Madanna Caves, Bhavani Island and Mangalagiri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple are the popular Vijayawada Tourist Places.
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Navratri brings Varanasi alive with an aura of festivity and spirituality in the blend. For ten days from the beginning of the festival till Dussehra, the city remains a favorite haunt of holy sages and devotees. Ramlila is the main attraction of the festival. Ramlila is a dance drama which is performed to enact the lives of Rama, Sita and Lakshman in exile, on a makeshift stage. Ramnagar at a distance of 15 km from the city is famous for this event that one must experience as part of Uttar Pradesh tour packages.
Ramlila at Ramnagar is held for one month along with the huge fair at Ramlila ground. The whole Ramnagar town serves as a set in order to represent the various scenes for Ashok Vatika, Panchavati, Janakpuri, Lanka, etc. Local actors play a variety of characters of Ramayana. Over a million pilgrims arrive annually for the vast processions and performances of Ramlila. At the day of Vijayadashami, Ram defeats and kills Ravan then the ground becomes full of the sound of crackers and fireworks. On the next day of Dussehra, an episode of Rama and Bharata Meet called as Bharat Milaap is held by the performers. Besides, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Kaal Bhairav Temple, Assi Ghat, Durga Temple and the gorgeous Ramnagar Fort are the other top places to visit in Varanasi.
Must Visit : Tourist Places near Lucknow
Delhi
Dussehra in Delhi is one of the most dramatic and entertaining forms of the festival. Nine days of worship and fasting culminate into a fireworks display as the huge effigies of Ravana and his evil brothers are set alight. Delhi observes Dussehra festival in celebration of Rama’s victory over Ravana. The temples of Lord Rama are decorated with flowers and lit with lamps, in every nook and corner of the capital. Religious music and recital of the Ramayana fill the atmosphere. There are almost 1000 Ramlila and 250 puja pandals events held in the city that can be visited as part of Delhi Packages.
Ramlila is the main cultural event, held on the festive evenings in the city. Popular Ramlila shows in Delhi are the ones at Ramlila Maidan, and one at the Red Fort lawns. The burning of the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghanath on the last day of the festival is the main attraction of Dussehra celebrations in Delhi. This ceremony is followed by an amazing firework. Jantar Mantar, Red Fort, Birla Mandir, Akshardham Temple, Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, ISKON Temple are some famous places to visit in Delhi.
Book Here: Car Rentals in Delhi
Kota, Rajasthan
Kota Dussehra celebrations occupies a special place in Rajasthan Tour Packages which is celebrated on a grand scale every year. Locals participate in the celebration with gusto but the place also gets large number of visitors from outside including foreigners just to be part of the grand celebrations at Kota, among the top places to visit near Jaipur. The main attraction of the Kota Dussehra festival is the 75 feet tall effigies of demon Ravana. Other highlights of the Kota Dussehra festivals include the processions and the spectacular representations of the life of Lord Rama and other principle characters from Ramayana. The festivities end after the effigy of the Ravana is burnt.
Villagers gather here dressed in multicolored clothes to offer prayers to Lord Rama and to celebrate his victory over Ravana. Prominent artists from all over the country are invited to participate in cultural programs that enthrall the huge audience with their performances. A fair known as Kota Dussehra Fair is organized for a duration of fortnight.
REFERENCE
PLACES TO VISIT IN VIJAYAWADA
KULLU ATTRACTIONS
Most Popular Rajasthan Tours
Similar posts:
8 Best Places to Celebrate Holi in India
6 Great Places to Celebrate Unforgettable Ganesh Chaturthi
15 Most Famous Festivals of India
10 Festivals You Must Attend Across India in March
10 Splendid Indian Festivals in April 2019
9 Spectacular Indian Festivals & Events in May
Most Popular Festivals Celebrated in South India
Quick Guide to Ardh Kumbh Mela 2019
6 Places in India to Witness Rama Navami Celebrations
10 Promising Festivals & Events in July in India
4 thoughts on “9 Popular Places to Celebrate Navratri & Dussehra Festivals”
Comments are closed.