<p>Dasara, also known as Vijayadashami, is one of the most important Hindu festivals celebrated in various forms across the world. <br /><br /></p>.<p>This festival has a deep spiritual significance, as it marks the victory of Goddess Durga over demon Mahishasur.<br /><br />On this day, people also burn an effigy of Ravana, who, according to Hindu mythology, was the demon king of Lanka.<br /><br />The myth goes that Ravana had abducted Sita, the consort of Lord Rama. Supported by an army of monkeys, Rama defeated Ravana and rescued Sita. The slaying of Ravana by Rama is hence celebrated as Dasara.<br /><br />Dasara stands for dus (ten) and hara (conquer). Ravana is shown as a demon with 10 heads. So, Dasara symbolises the conquest of 10 vices, five of which are in men and the rest in women. The five vices are lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego. Just as Vishnu symbolises the combined form of perfect man and woman, Ravana represents the five vices in men and women.<br /><br />Dasara is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Ashwin, according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar, which corresponds to September or October of the Gregorian calendar. The first nine days are celebrated as Maha Navaratri or Sharada Navaratri and culminates on the 10th day as Dasara.<br /><br />Vijayadashmi is symbolic of the victory of virtue over vices. Ravana represents all that is evil and Rama symbolises everything that is good. The fact that every year people burn large effigies of Ravana points to the subtle truth that Ravana is still alive and evil continues to grow in the present Kaliyuga.<br /><br />Today, everyone celebrates this festival without knowing its true significance. With increasing stress and tension in modern society, festivals like Navaratri and Dasara have become an escape route for people to forget their worries and dance for 10 days.<br /><br />So, how does one celebrate Dasara in its true spirit? One must understand that we would be able to celebrate true Dasara only when all human beings become pure – when the vices of lust, anger greed, etc, are eliminated from human minds and Ravana, the symbolic evil, is defeated forever. Till then, it would be just a merry-making carnival without any effective purpose.<br /><br />True knowledge imparted by the Almighty Supreme dispels all spiritual ignorance. He says that like Sita, all human souls have been enslaved by Ravana. Therefore, this world is like a kingdom of Ravana where evil activities prevail, in spite of so many religious teachings.<br /><br />This year, make up your mind and completely burn the Ravana within you, so that he can never raise his head ever again. <br /><br />Otherwise, we are destined to live in duality.<br /></p>
<p>Dasara, also known as Vijayadashami, is one of the most important Hindu festivals celebrated in various forms across the world. <br /><br /></p>.<p>This festival has a deep spiritual significance, as it marks the victory of Goddess Durga over demon Mahishasur.<br /><br />On this day, people also burn an effigy of Ravana, who, according to Hindu mythology, was the demon king of Lanka.<br /><br />The myth goes that Ravana had abducted Sita, the consort of Lord Rama. Supported by an army of monkeys, Rama defeated Ravana and rescued Sita. The slaying of Ravana by Rama is hence celebrated as Dasara.<br /><br />Dasara stands for dus (ten) and hara (conquer). Ravana is shown as a demon with 10 heads. So, Dasara symbolises the conquest of 10 vices, five of which are in men and the rest in women. The five vices are lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego. Just as Vishnu symbolises the combined form of perfect man and woman, Ravana represents the five vices in men and women.<br /><br />Dasara is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Ashwin, according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar, which corresponds to September or October of the Gregorian calendar. The first nine days are celebrated as Maha Navaratri or Sharada Navaratri and culminates on the 10th day as Dasara.<br /><br />Vijayadashmi is symbolic of the victory of virtue over vices. Ravana represents all that is evil and Rama symbolises everything that is good. The fact that every year people burn large effigies of Ravana points to the subtle truth that Ravana is still alive and evil continues to grow in the present Kaliyuga.<br /><br />Today, everyone celebrates this festival without knowing its true significance. With increasing stress and tension in modern society, festivals like Navaratri and Dasara have become an escape route for people to forget their worries and dance for 10 days.<br /><br />So, how does one celebrate Dasara in its true spirit? One must understand that we would be able to celebrate true Dasara only when all human beings become pure – when the vices of lust, anger greed, etc, are eliminated from human minds and Ravana, the symbolic evil, is defeated forever. Till then, it would be just a merry-making carnival without any effective purpose.<br /><br />True knowledge imparted by the Almighty Supreme dispels all spiritual ignorance. He says that like Sita, all human souls have been enslaved by Ravana. Therefore, this world is like a kingdom of Ravana where evil activities prevail, in spite of so many religious teachings.<br /><br />This year, make up your mind and completely burn the Ravana within you, so that he can never raise his head ever again. <br /><br />Otherwise, we are destined to live in duality.<br /></p>