Dussehra 2019 will be celebrated all over India on October 8, Tuesday. The festival is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Ashwin, which coincides with Gregorian months of September or October. The festival is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil. In some parts of India, Dussehra marks the day Lord Rama killed the demon king Ravana; hence, the day is called Vijayadashami (victory on 10th day). To commemorate this event, plays and skits re-enacting episodes from Ramayana are organised on this day. Ramlila, which means “the play of Rama”, is a cultural programme based on Tulsidas’ rendition of Ramayana or Ramcharitmanas. Ramlila plays are meant to showcase Lord Rama’s qualities as the ideal son, brother, husband and king. They are re-enactments of chapters from the epic, starting with Rama’s incarnation to Ravana’s death. By defeating Ravana, Rama ended his tyrannical rule and adharma on earth. To commemorate this event, large effigies of Ravana are burnt in a ritual called Ravan Dahan (burning of Ravana).

What is the Significance of Ramlila?

The first enactment of Ramlila took place in the 16th century based on poet Tulsidas’ Ramcharitmanas. His student Megha Bhagat was the first to start the tradition in 1625, but the play was quite popular even before that. Before Ramcharitmanas, Valmiki’s Ramayana was the template for Ramlila plays. Today’s Ramlila plays are based on the ancient Sanskrit text but have also adopted modern theatrical techniques. Best Places to Watch Ravan Dahan and Vijayadashami Events in Mumbai, Delhi with Timings.

What is the Significance of Ravan Dahan?

On Vijayadashami day, effigies of Ravana are burnt to symbolise Rama’s victory over adharma. It is celebrated on a large scale in northern India where people gather to watch the effigy burn. Large figurines of Ravana are specially made for the day, stuffed with explosives and other flammable material and set on fire. Happy Dussehra 2019 Wishes: WhatsApp Stickers, Ravan Dahan GIF Images, Dasara Greetings, SMS, Quotes and Message For Vijayadashami.

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Ramlila and Ravan Dahan are organised in many parts of the country for Vijayadashami or Dussehra. In the past, people used to come out in droves to watch these cultural events that brought the community together. Places like Ayodhya (birthplace of Ram), Ramnagar, Aishbagh and Almora and even Thailand and Laos have dramatic performances of Rama’s life. Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, Lal Qila Maidan in New Delhi, Azad Maidan and Girgaon Chowpatty in Mumbai are some places where Ravan Dahan is hosted.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 07, 2019 08:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).