The Dussera festival, also known as Durga-puja - worship of the goddess Durga, continues for ten days. It is one of the most important and begins on the first night of the month Ashvin (late September - early October).
Dussera is a holiday in honor of the victory of the god Rama (the incarnation of the god Vishnu) over the demon Ravana, described in the Ramayana.
The legend of the good goddess is passed down from generation to generation.
… For eight days Rama prayed to the fate of the victory over the demon Ravana. To please the goddess, he collected the rarest blue lotuses, Durga's favorite flowers. On the eighth day, he presented her with 108 blossoming lotuses. To test Rama's loyalty, the goddess hid one flower. Only the number 108 meant a good omen. And then Rama decided to sacrifice his own eye. But Durga took pity on Rama and gave him miraculous powers.
A few days before the start of the holiday, temporary temples are erected for the goddess of good Durga. They construct huge figures of the ten-headed Ravana and his servants. Demons are raised high in skirts, with skinny legs and short arms. Inside, these figures are masterfully charged with firecrackers.
Residents of the city gather in the square to watch a theatrical performance of the life of the god Rama called "Ramlila". Ramlila is usually played by teenage boys. It is hard to believe that female images are so skillfully performed by boys, to such an extent he is feminine and graceful.
On the site around the gigantic demons, various devices for fireworks are installed - mills, carousels, turntables in the form of fantastic bushes and trees.
The culmination of the holiday falls on the onset of dusk - Rama releases a burning arrow and hits the giant stuffed animal of Ravana with it. The clothes instantly flash and the firecrackers with which the mannequin is stuffed begin to fire. The fire is transferred to other demons, thousands of merry-go-round and mill lights flare up. The jubilation of the crowd once again confirms: good always wins.
Promotional video:
From the book: "100 Great Holidays". Elena Olegovna Chekulaeva