DUSSEHRA OR DASARA

Dasara also spelled like Dashera, Dussera and Dussehra, derived from the Sanskrit Dasha-hara meaning "remover of bad fate", is among the most important festivals celebrated in India. Dasara is also famously known as Navratri.

Navratri, Navaratri, or Navarathri is a Hindu festival of worship and dance. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit, Nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshipped.

The Navratri commences on the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashwin. The festival is celebrated for nine nights once every year during the beginning of October, although as the dates of the festival are determined according to the lunar calendar, the festival may be held for a day more or a day less.

Navaratri represents celebration of Goddess Durga, the manifestation of Deity in form of Shakti (Energy or Power). The Navaratri festival or ‘nine day festival’ becomes ‘ten day festival’ with the addition of the last day, Vijayadashami which is its culmination. On all these ten days, the various forms of Mother Mahisasura-mardini (Durga) are worshipped with fervour and devotion.

Sri Kanaka Durga Devi, the chief deity of the temple is portrayed as blessing the visiting devotees in various forms (avatars) during the ten day festival. A symbolic representation of the 10 forms of triumph of good over evil, this form (known as "Alankaram") of the day is chosen as per the astrological star of each day, in accordance with the lunar calendar. Nine forms of Shakti are worshipped during the Navaratris. The Devis worshipped depend on the tradition of the region. Alankarams may change according to Thidis and nakshatrams every year

Nine forms of Shakti are worshipped during the Navaratris. The Devis worshipped depend on the tradition of the region.

• Durga, the inaccessible one
• Bhadrakali
• Amba or Jagadamba, Mother of the universe
• Annapurna, The one who bestows grains (anna) in plenty (purna: used as subjective)
• Sarvamangala, The one who gives joy (mangal) to all (sarva)
• Bhairavi
• Chandika or Chandi
• Lalita
• Bhavani
• Mookambika

Navaratri is celebrated in different ways throughout India. In North India, all three Navratris are celebrated with much fervor by fasting on all nine days and worshipping the Mother Goddess in her different forms. The Chaitra Navratri culmintes in Ram Navami and the Sharad Navratri culminates in Durga Puja and Dussehra. The Dussehra of Kulu in Himachal Pradesh is particularly famous in the North.

The last four days of Sharad Navratri take on a particularly dramatic form in the state of West Bengal in East India where they are celebrated as Durga Puja. This is the biggest festival of the year in this state. Exquisitely crafted and decorated life-size clay idols of the Goddess Durga depicting her slaying the demon Mahisasura are set up in temples and other places. These idols are then worshipped for five days and immersed in the river on the fifth day.

In Western India, particularly in the state of Gujarat, Navratri is celebrated with the famous Garba and Dandiya-Raas dance. In South India, people set up steps and place idols on them. This is known as golu. During the eight or ninth day, Kanya Pooja, pre-pubescent girls are ceremonially worshiped. Batukamma is a spring festival celebrated by the Hindu women of Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is also called as Bodemma. This festival falls in the months of September/October called as Aswiyuja and concludes two days before Dussera called as Durgashtami. Batukamma is very special in Telangana.

Navratri is divided into sets of three days to adore three different aspects of the supreme goddess or goddesses.

First three days - The goddess is separated as a spiritual force called Durga also known as Kali in order to destroy all our impurities.

Second three days - The Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees inexhaustible wealth, as she is the goddess of wealth.

Final three days - The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have all-round success in life, believers seek the blessings of all three aspects of the divine femininity, hence the nine nights of worship.

In South India, Saraswati pooja is performed on the 9th day. Eight day is traditionally Durgashtami which is big in Bengal. The 10th day is Ayudha Pooja when everyone gives their tools of the trade—pens, machinery, books, automobiles, school work, etc. a rest and ritually worships them. They start a fresh from the next day, the 10th day which is considered as "Vijaya Dasami". On this tenth day of Navratri in October - the holiday of Dussehra, an effigy of Ravana is burnt to celebrate the victory of good (Rama) over evil.

During Navratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for the protection of health and prosperity. A period of introspection and purification, Navratri is traditionally an auspicious and religious time for starting new ventures.

During this vowed religious observance, a pot is installed (ghatasthapana) at a sanctified place at home. A lamp is kept lit in the pot for nine days. The pot symbolizes the universe. The uninterrupted lit lamp is the medium through which we worship the effulgent Adishakti, i.e. Sree Durgadevi. During Navratri, the principle of Sree Durgadevi is more active in the atmosphere.

Dussehra is celebrated to mark the victory of the Lord Rama over Ravana. Celebrate Dussehra along with some delicious food. During these nine days, ladies maintain Navratri vrat and enjoy some delicious food on those days. It is believed that fasting cleans one’s body and soul. Gujarati celebrate with traditional food and dance.

The delicious recipes that are prepared during Dussehra are : Aloo Kachori, Badam Kheer, Besan Burfi, Gol papdi, Gulab Jamun, Hara Bhara kabab, Imarti, Jalebi, Kachori, Khaman Dhokla, Kulfi, Mathi, Moong Dal Halwa, Murukku, Paneer Pakora, Papri chaat, Rabdi, and Sandesh.

The traditional vrat  (fasting) recipes includes : Panchamrut, Sweet lassi, Aloo chaat, Apple Rabri, Arbi-Yam Oondhiya, Jeera Aloo, Kaddu ki sabzi, Kele ke kofte, Kaju Burfi, Kuttu ke pakore, Makhaane ki kheer, Mango rabri, Sabudana kheer, Sabudana Khichdi, Sabudana vada, Singhare ke Pakore, Til- Khoya Laddoo, Vrat ke chawal.