Who started Dasara festival?

 Who started Dasara festival?

Crowds throng food festival, Yuva Dasara in Mysuru

Mysuru witnessing heavy traffic as people hitting the streets to experience the special Dasara illumination

Mysuru witnessing heavy traffic as people hitting the streets to experience the special Dasara illumination

The Dasara food festival at two venues and Yuva Dasara at Maharaja College grounds are a big hit with scores of people turning up to these venues during the evenings. Kuppanna Park, the venue of Dasara flower show, is another place that is witnessing heavy rush since the start of festivities. But the most popular attraction is none other than the iconic Mysuru palace that has been the cynosure of all eyes, thanks to its breathtaking illumination.

The flower show inside the palace where a replica of Red Fort has been done in red roses and other floral displays is drawing big crowds. The entry to the show is free.

Almost all roads are witnessing heavy traffic with people hitting the roads to experience the Dasara illumination in the central business district. If people are seen travelling in their cars and two-wheelers to experience lighting, others are hopping on to the double decker buses ‘Ambari’ and the Sarot and horse-drawn tongas to go around the city.

As it is getting impossible to drive cars amidst heavy traffic after 6:30 p.m., many are seen parking their vehicles somewhere closer to the city center and walking to glimpse the illumination.

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Dasara approaches, demand for sheep increases(Who started Dasara festival?)

Visakhapatnam: As Dasara festival approaches, not only common people but also motor vehicle owners, small scale industries and traders have started buying sheep for sacrificial ritual of Goddess Durga.

The traders depend on neighbouring states to procure the animals to meet the demand. Banning of some weekly shandies (Santas) in places where cattle, sheep, goats and domestically produced chicken meat are usually brought for trade is also a reason to rely on other states. The government has banned shandies in some districts as lumpy skin affects cattle and not sheep or goats. Due to this, the traders have to depend on the sources of sheep. Due to this, the prices of sheep have increased.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Nellore district animal husbandry department joint director Maheswarudu agreed, "Yes, weekly shandies have been banned in some districts, including Nellore, due to lumpy skin disease scare.  However, there is no threat to sheep and goats. People need not worry about it."

AP State Sheep and Goat Breeders' Welfare Association President Ganta Sriram said that the demand for sheep has increased due to Dasara and ban on weekly shandies of animal trading.  The price of each sheep ranges from Rs.10000 to Rs.30000 against Rs. 8000 to Rs. 10000 on normal days.

“About 50 percent of the sheep are brought from the border states of Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu to meet the demand for sheep in AP during Dasara. People give priority to sheep over goats  for offerings,” Sriram said.

There are about 3 lakh motor vehicles like lorries, trucks and minivans in the state, said YV Eswara Rao, general secretary of AP Lorry Owners Association. On the occasion of Dasara and Sankranti, it is customary for the families of some motor vehicle owners and others to sacrifice animals as part of the rituals, he added.

On the other hand, Visakhapatnam-based Broiler Chicken Traders Association President T. Adinarayana said that the demand for Country made chicken (Natukodi) is usually high during the Dasara festival. Broiler chicken is taken for offerings as many people do not buy the `Natukodi’ due to high prices.

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Kullu Dussehra – when gods and goddesses come alive(How do we celebrate Dussehra 10 lines?)

© Provided by The Statesman Kullu Dussehra – when gods and goddesses come alive

In most parts of the country on Vijaya Dashmi, Dussehra is celebrated. Monumentalize the victory of lord Rama over the demon Ravana. Many fairs are organized throughout the country on this day, which celebrates victory over evil.

However, Kullu Dussehra is, distinct in specific ways from the Dussehra celebrations in the other parts of the country. It represents the cultural and ethical values of the people and their spiritual beliefs which are exemplified during this festival with traditional songs, dances, and colourful dresses. It begins on the day of Vijaya Dashmi and lasts for one week.

The history of Dussehra in Kullu dates back to the rule of Raja Jagat Singh who ruled Kullu from 1637 to 1672. According to the legends, Raja Jagat Singh of Kullu installed an idol of Raghunath on his throne as a mark of penance. After this, Lord Raghunath was declared the ruling deity of the valley. He also provided village deities with land rights, requiring them to pay an annual tribute to Raghunath and to participate in the festival.

During the pre-colonial era the villagers and their local deities had to visit the capital, to take part in the rath yatra to attend a Barbara and a royal assembly held by the king during Dussehra. Participation by the village deities was compulsory, and defaulting deities had to pay an annual commendation to Raghunathji (nazrana).

In this festival, the Gods and Goddesses are beautifully embellished on the palanquins, known as Raths, with the league of bands who come from the interior valleys and villages situated in every alcove and corner of the Kullu district.

The Rathyatra of Raghunathjee from Sultanpur to Dhalpur starts in the afternoon. It is mandatory that Devi Hadimba of Dhungri, a village near Manali where her famous temple exists, first arrives at the Raghunathjee temple. She is regarded as the great-grandmother of the area Raja of Kullu is considered as the descendant of their dynasty.

The main attraction of Kullu Dussehra is the Rathyatra of Raghunathjee. The Rath is made of deodar wood with a huge wooden base, wooden wheels and a temple-like structure. The Raghunathjee’s idol is brought from Sultanpur in a palanquin accompanied by the Raja, priests, and bodyguards dressed in their traditional dresses. As soon as the Raghunath deity is seated the devotees of all the Devtas start playing their bands. After Puja sacrifices of a buffalo, goat, cock, fish, and crab are offered.

During the festival, some of the deities meet each other and enquire about their interest through their clairvoyants and the Kardas. The local craftsmen such as potters, basket and mat makers, iron-smiths, shoemakers, and weavers sell their articles in this mela.

Kulu Dussehra is known for its cultural significance and has unique Importance throughout the world. The deity institution in Himachal has a significant role to play in the material aspect of life in the state, however, the socio-ecological aspects of the institution of deities have an immense bearing on conflicts of interest amongst various groups in the area, and thus the government should understand that it is almost dangerous to make an attempt to alter the psychology of the culture.