Dussehra 2021

Dussehra is one of the most popular festival celebrated by Hindu all around the world.

Dussehra is also called  Dasain, Dasara, Vijaya Dashami, etc, and celebrated with jamara and red tika.

Dussehra 2021 is celebrated on 15 October 2021 Friday. It is a celebration of " Victory of Good over Evil " which symbolizes good always prevails over the bad.

It is celebrated for 15 days where day 10 is known as Dasami. This day has great significance in the Hindu religion.

First, 9 days is called Navratri. On each day of Navratri 9 different forms of maa, Bhagwati is worshipped.

Navratri Day 1:  Ghatasthapana

The first day is called Ghatasthapana. On this day, a divine Kalas is covered with cow dunk and decorated with barley filled with water. This Kalas is placed in the pooja room as the symbol of the divine power of the goddess on the sand. In the 10th day, these seeds are ready to use as it spouts, grow to five to six inches yellow grass. This sacred yellow grass is known as jamara.

On the first day of Navratri, Goddess ' Shailaputri ' is worshipped. She is one of the forms of Goddess Durga. Goddess Shailaputri is known as the daughter of the Himalayas. She is a part of lord Shiva as shakti.

माता शैलपुत्री :  मंत्र- ' ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं शैलपुत्र्यै नम:। '

Navratri Day 2: 

The second form of Goddess Durga is known as ' Brahmacharini '. The name  Brahmacharini is derived from the word ' Brahma ' which means ' tapa ' or ' Penance '. 

माता ब्रह्मचारिणी  : मंत्र- ' ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नम:। '

Navratri Day 3:

The third day of Navratri is devoted to Goddess Chandraghata '. She is another form of Goddess Durga and symbolizes beauty and bravery.

माता चन्द्रघंटा : मंत्र- ' ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चन्द्रघंटायै नम:। '

Navratri Day 4:

The fourth form of Goddess Durga is ' Kushmanda '. She is known as the creator of the entire universe with her laughter.

माता कूष्मांडा : मंत्र- ' ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं कूष्मांडायै नम:। '

Navratri Day 5: 

' Skanda Mata ', the fifth form of Goddess Durga is worshipped on the fifth day of Navratri. She is a mother of heroic warrior ' Skanda ' and a symbol of divinity.

माता स्कंदमाता : मंत्र- ' ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं स्कंदमातायै नम:। '

Navratri Day 6: 

On the sixth day of Navratri Maa ' Katyayani ' is worshipped. It is believed that worshipping Goddess Katyayani brings courage and wisdom. She is portrayed as seated on a lion with 3 eyes and four hands.

माता कात्यायनी : मंत्र- ' ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं कात्यायनायै नम:। '

Navratri Day 7: Phulpati

On the seventh day of Navratri, the seventh form of Goddess Durga is worshipped as ' Kalratri '. Goddess Kalratri holds a dagger to combat evil and protects devotees to overcome fear and ego.

माता कालरात्रि : मंत्र- ' ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं कालरात्र्यै नम:। '

Navratri Day 8: Maha Ashtami or Durga Ashtami

' Mata Gauri', the symbol of peace, intelligence, and wisdom, is worshipped on the eighth day of Navaratri. Maha Gauri, the wife of Lord Shiva, portrayed as fair-complexioned, wearing white clothes and holding a ' trident ' and ' damaru '.

माता महागौरी : मंत्र- ' ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं महागौर्ये नम:। '

Navratri Day 9: Maha Navami or Durga Navami

On the ninth day of Navratri, ' Siddhidatri ' Devi is worshipped. It is believed that she is the Goddess of all eight siddhis. She is worshipped by all sadhakas, Siddhas,  yogis, rishi-munis.

माता महागौरी : मंत्र- ' ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं महागौर्ये नम:। '

Day 10: Vijaya Dashami

Vijaya Dashami is celebrated on the tenth day of Dussehra. All the family members gather together to celebrate Vijaya Dashami by putting red tika made from rice and vermilion, and jamara from elders and get blessings from them. Tika continues till kojagrat purnima.

Day 15: Kojagrat Purnima

This is the last day of dasain.