Dussehra 2020, Vijay Dashmi 2020 HIGHLIGHTS: Devotees Follow Covid-19 Norms While Visiting Temples In Certain Places, Shocking Violation Seen In Others
Dussehra 2020, Vijay Dashmi 2020 HIGHLIGHTS: On this day, Goddess Durga slayed the demon king Mahishasura and Lord Rama defeated King Ravana, both are symbols of good being ultimately victorious over evil.
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Background
Dussehra 2020: Dussehra or Vijayadashami marks the end of the Durga Puja and the festival of Navratri as it falls on the tenth day of Ashwin as per the Hindu calendar. This year Dashmi is on October 25, ie today. ALSO READ | Horoscope Today, 25 October 2020: Know What Is Best For You To Do On Vijay Dashami As Per Your Sun Sign
Significance
On this day, Goddess Durga slayed the demon king Mahishasura and Lord Rama defeated King Ravana, both are symbols of good being ultimately victorious over evil. While Dashmi marks the end of Navratri it also witnesses preparation for the festival of lights Diwali, which falls approximately twenty days after Dussehra.
Timings
According to Drikpanchang, this year Dashami Tithi begins at 7:41 am on October 25, and ends at 9:00 am on October 26. For Vijay Dashami in West Bengal, the Aparahna puja time is from 1:13 pm to 3.28 pm on October 26 while the mahurat for the day, in general, is between 1:58 pm and 2.43 pm today.
Celebrations
Navratri literally translates to nine nights. During this period, different forms of the goddess Durga are worshipped. These include Shilaputri, Brahmacharni, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandama, Katyayani, Kalratri, Maha Gauri, and Siddhidatri. This year there was a confluence of Ashtami and Navami as both fell on October 24.
Jyoti Kalash, Kumari Puja, Sandhi Puja, Navami Homa, Lalitha Vrat and Chandi Path are some of the other famous rituals observed during the nine days of Navratri.
On this day, effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakaran are burnt. People portray the life of Lord Rama through ballads and plays. Goddess Durga is immersed in water by the devotees as it signifies the departure of Goddess Durga from the material world after maintaining Dharma.
Meanwhile, the Coronavirus pandemic has changed the festivities as there is a visibly less fervour because of the restrictions that need to be followed. Several temples witnessed lesser devotees and sellers reported a huge drop in people buying materials needed for worship. MHA has issued guidelines seeing the festival period and people are strongly advised to follow them to keep up the spirit of the period.
Dussehra was celebrated across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Sunday with devotion but on a subdued note due to COVID-19 pandemic. The usual festive buzz was missing in both the Telugu states. Wearing masks and maintaining social distance, people visited temples to offer prayers to Goddess Durga on the occasion of Vijayadashami. Clad in their festive best, people thronged temples, from the crack of dawn, to worship the Goddess. Temples were decked up with lights and flowers and special pujas conducted as part of celebrations.
Even as the rest of India prepares to burn effigies of Ravan as a symbolic victory of good over evil, devotees are quietly lining up outside a nondescript temple in Kanpur.
This temple that opens its door for devotees only for one day in a year -- Dussehra -- is dedicated to the Lankan king Ravan. Devotees come from far and wide to worship Ravan on the day he was slain by Lord Ram.
Bollywood celebrities including Anushka Sharma, Kajol, Priyanka Chopra, Ajay Devgn, Abhishek Bachchan and others extended their warm wishes to their fans on Dussehra.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday extended greetings to the nation on the occasion of Vijayadashmi. In her message, she said the nine-day puja festival is a symbol of victory over injustice and ego. Attacking the Union government, she said, "Vijaya Dashami's biggest message is that people are paramount in governance and there is no place for arrogance, falsehood and breaking of promises in a ruler's life."
She hoped that this Dussehra will not only bring happiness, peace and prosperity in everyone's life but also strengthen harmony and cultural values among people.
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