Dussehra Festival Rajasthan This Hindu festival commemorates the killing of Ravana (an evil king from Sri Lanka) by God Rama (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu). The festival is preceded by nine days Navratri celebration in which Goddess Durga is worshipped in order to seek her blessings for a good harvest season.
According to Hindu mythology, Ravana abducted Sita, the consort of Lord Rama while they were in exile. Lord Rama not only killed Ravana but also established an indelible reason for the Hindu devotees to celebrate his triumph as a day of Dussehra. For the celebration of Dussehra, large effigies are created which are later burned to ashes as a symbol of the defeat of the evil. All around the country, these effigies are made and burned; prayers are also offered and plays are performed as a part of the celebration both in Rajasthan as well as across the country.
The large size of the effigies of the ten-headed Ravana, Kumbhkarna (Ravana’s brother), and Meghnath (Ravana’s son) make the celebration of Dussehra in Kota, Rajasthan exceptional. The effigies are about 75 feet in height making them the highest in India. A fair is also held in Kota around Dussehra festival where artisans from across the state come. Apart from Kota, Jaipur also celebrates Dussehra with all pomp and show Rajasthan Budget Tours.
Festival Dates/Months: Dussehra is celebrated in the month of October or November, however there is no fixed date.
Special highlights of the festival:
- Large effigies of Ravana, Meghnath, and Kumbhkarna are built and burned on Dussehra
- Plays based on the killing of Ravana by Lord Rama are performed
- In Kota, the highest effigies of 75 feet are built
- A fair is held in Kota on Dussehra
History of Dussehra
There is beautiful folklore associated with the Dussehra festival. The story behind the celebration of Dussehra is, the demon king ‘Ravana‘ abducts ‘Sita‘, the wife of Lord ‘Rama‘. Then Lord Rama took the help of God ‘Hanuman‘ and his small Sena and cross over to Lanka to kill the Demon King Ravana. Lord Rama fought the battle for his wife and won. Along with Ravana, Lord Rama killed Ravana’s brother ‘Kumbha Karna‘ and son ‘Meghanada‘. Thus, Dussehra marks the victory of good over evil. Here, good symbolizes Lord Rama the god and evil represents Ravan the demon king Dussehra Festival Rajasthan.
Attractions of Dussehra in Kota
Dussehra Festival in Kota has occupied a significant position in the tourism map of Kota. Located on the banks of the Chambal River, Kota celebrates a number of festivals. However, this festival of Dussehra bears a distinct appeal altogether. The whole area boasts an attractive during this festival. Dussehra is not only a great festival for the fun it offers. It has a huge religious significance in Hindu religion. The mythical association of the festival states that it is to celebrate the victory of Lord Rama over the Demon King Ravana. According to the Hindu religious beliefs, the battle was won by Ravana after a fierce battle of 10 days.
Witnessing the Dussehra Festival of Kota is a unique experience for the tourists. The theatrical representation of the encounter is a great show to experience. The theatrical representation is given shape by active participation of people from different age groups This is primarily done to suit the different characters. The drama holds so much importance among the local people and has so much appeal that spectators start chanting in the name of Lord Rama during the show. The climax of the drama holds most excitement as it ends with setting fire to gigantic effigies of 10 headed Ravana. The effigies are packed with crackers and once set in fire; they burst to create an extravagant show.
The festival of Dussehra Kota is one of the major attractions of Kota tours. It is a must visit during Kota tours. Hence, if you are planning to visit Kota, try to plan it during the time of this festival and visit the Dussehra festival in Kota. The festival is celebrated during the Hindu month of Ashvin. This month falls between September and October You will surely have a great experience Dussehra Festival Rajasthan.
How to Reach Kota
By Air : Kota is 245 km from Jaipur airport and is the nearest airport from Kota.
By Rail : There are some very efficiently managed super fast train services running through Kota from various parts of the country. Kota lies on the Delhi-Mumbai route.
By Road : The main bus depot is located on Bundi Road. Bus services are also available from Ajmer, Chittorgarh, Jaipur, Udaipur, which are all about six hours away from Kota by road, Dussehra Festival Rajasthan.
