2016-10-10 Mon

Dussehra is an important Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. Celebrated in a variety of ways in India, it is known by different names across the country This 10th Day of Hindu month of Ashwin, Dussehra is also known as Vijayadashami or Ayudhapuja.

The word "Dussehra" is derived from Sanskrit; Dasha-hara is a form of Dashanan ravan ("Ravana's defeat"). Ayudhapuja in simple terms means “Worship of Implements”. "Vijayadashami" is derived from the Sanskrit vijaya-dashami (victory on the dashami: the tenth day of the Hindu month). The day marks the victory of Durga over the demon Mahishasura. The first nine days are celebrated as Navratri.

The Mahabharata is another series of Hindu stories that play a role in the Dussehra festival. The Pandavas abandoned their weapons and went into exile for one year. They hid their weapons in a Shami tree and found them at the same place when they returned from exile. They then worshipped the tree before going to a battle, which they won. This epic is also commemorated during Dussehra.

The principal Shakti goddesses worshiped during the Ayudha puja are Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati. It is on this occasion when weapons are worshipped by soldiers and tools are revered by artisans. The Puja is considered a meaningful custom, which focuses specific attention to one’s profession and its related tools and connotes that a divine force is working behind it to perform well and for getting the proper reward.

Celebrated in a variety of ways in India, the only connotation behind the celebration is the victory of good over evil. This festival is commemorated on a Rs. 5.00 stamp which features the traditional custom performed in the state of Mysore.

Besides, a Rs 2.00 stamp was issued in the year of 1974 depicting the traditional mask of Ravana.