- The same festival Dussehra is celebrated differently across India e.g. Mysuru, Bastar, Kullu, Kota, and Jhejuri near Pune. Diversity is part of Indian tradition. Also read about Ram Lila in Kumaon and Kashi. The compilation has brief info, photo and video links.
Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day of Navratri, also known as Vijayadashami. Just like Holi is celebrated in different ways across India so is Dussehra. This article enumerates the different ways with links to articles and albums.
1. Mysuru Dussehra (Dasara)
The city celebrates Ma Chamundeswari’s victory over Mahishasura. Celebrations are around the Mysuru Palace i.e. fully lit up. Local wrestlers fight within the palace premises. The current Wodeyar King (titular) rides on an elephant. Get to see lots of folk dance and enjoy music from different parts of Karnataka. Elephants start from the palace, go through the town to end at a stadium a few km away where an evening function is held. The city is beautifully lit up. The energy is infectious. Do try the very good street food. You get North Indian food too.
2. Bastar Dussehra
It is celebrated for 75 days. The last four days are key. Start with Dantewada and then move to Jagdalpur (Dantewada is about 8 hours by bus from Raipur Airport, the private car would be shorter. Jagdalpur to Dantewada is less than two hours).
Here no effigy of Ravana is burnt. Instead, the festival celebrates Ma Danteshwari and her reunion with sister Maoli Devi.
The celebration starts at Ma Danteshwari Mandir in Dantewada from where the procession moves to Jagdalpur’s Danteshwari Temple and around where the rest of the festival is celebrated. The erstwhile king of Bastar plays an important role (titular head) whilst the devotees and performers are all Adivasis who worship their own Gods and Goddesses. The Bison Maria (men and women) danced in both towns. Their dance and music are a must experience.
In Jagdalpur visit Jogi’s Bithai (Jogi’s Penance), Nisha Jatra from Bastar Palace is a must experience, adjacent to Danteshwari Mandir in Jagdalpur is where young girls are worshipped and fed. Maoli Devi is kept at Jiya Dera overnight for darshan post where there is a procession which goes to Danteshwari Mandir. Nearly halfway through Maoli Devi is received by the titular King of Bastar who takes Maoli Devi to Danteshwari Mandir (this is a major event).
During the festival, you will see devotees in a trance with Anga Deo on their shoulders. “The much-revered shape of God is called Anga Deo and can have a ladder-like shape (Doli) or even a stick, stone or tree.” They walk very fast and you will get hurt if they bang into you by mistake so be careful.
Close by the next day see the construction of a chariot on which Maoli Devi would be kept and then the procession to drag the chariot. This chariot is taken to Kundakot where the Adivasis bring their deities one by one. It is then taken back from here to Bastar Palace.
The Bastar Dussehra album covers the festival step by step or read about Bastar Dussehra in Outlook Travel or a simply told Informative Blog.
3. Worship of Shakti in Punjab
“On the 8th day or Ashtami, they open their fast along with organizing Bhandara for nine little girls known as Kanjika”.
4. Mardaani Dussehra, Jhejuri Temple Maharashtra
Jhejuri is also famous for its sword-lifting competition. It weighs 42 kgs and was probably gifted by a Maratha Sardar in the 17th century. At the Khandoba Temple, Jhejuri near Pune is celebrated as Mardaani Dussehra.
5. Kullu Dussehra
“In the 17th century, King Jagat Singh installed an idol of Lord Ram on his throne on the day of Dussehra. Since then, Lord Ram has been named the ruling deity of the Kullu Valley. In Kullu, they don’t celebrate Dussehra by burning the effigies of Ravana. However, there is a tradition of setting a pile of bushes on fire which is believed to depict the burning of Lanka.”
“The Kullu Dussehra, started by king of Kullu Jagat Singh in 1665, used to be held at Manikaran, but the king brought the old idols of Lord Raghunath from Manikaran to Kullu, said Maheshwar Singh, the present ‘Kardar’ of Lord Raghunath, who is the hero of all ceremonies.”
Kullu Dussehra starts when Dussehra ends in other parts of India. Locals in groups walk with their Devis and Devatas to Kullu and camp in a maidan. Each devta has its own tent. The Raja of Kulu leads the procession to install the image of Raghunath, the reigning deity.
6. Kota Dussehra
This is a regular Dussehra with effigies of Ravana being burnt.
Can Dussehra be complete without Ram Lila? It is held in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh (a popular one is in Ramanagar near Kashi) and Kumaon etc.
7. Kumaon ki Ram Lila
“Also known as the Kumaoni Ramleela, it was first started in 1860 at Almora’s famous Badreshwar Temple. It is also famous by the name of Nanda Devi Ramlee.” Source Times of India
Read in Hindi about Kumaon ki Ram Lila Tradition, to see Video 4.46 minutes on Ram Laxman Samvad
8. Ramnagar, Kashi ki Ram Lila
Ramnagar is across the Ganga in Kashi. There is a fort and palace.
“It is believed that the great saint Tulsidas started the tradition of Ram Lila, the enactment of the story of Lord Ram. The Ramcharitamanas, written by him, form the basis of Ram Lila’s performances till today. The Ramnagar Ram Leela (at Varanasi) is enacted in the most traditional style. This special Ram Leela of Ramnagar lasts for almost one month.
Ram Leela of Ramnagar was started in the first quarter of the nineteenth century by the then Maharaja of Benaras, Udit Narayan Singh. Hundreds of Sadhus called the ‘Ramayanis’ come to watch and recite the Ramayana. Here, almost the whole town is transformed into a vast Ram Leela ground as permanent structures are built and spaces are designated to represent the main locations of the story. Thus, we have Ashok Vatika, Lanka etc at different locations in the town. The audience moves along with the performers with every episode, to the next location.” Source Varanasicity.com and here.
(The article was first published on eSamskriti to whom it belongs. Republished with permission)
Dr. Niranjan B Poojar 
Balaji Subramanian