Dussehra, also called Vijaya Dashami, is a special festival in India that celebrates the victory of good over evil. This year, people are celebrating it online with friends to keep the tradition alive. The festival has two main stories that explain why it is celebrated.
One famous story of Dussehra is about Lord Rama, a prince who lived in the forest with his wife, Sita, and his brother, Lakshmana. The story begins when Sita is taken away by the demon king Ravana to his kingdom, Lanka.
To save Sita, Rama gets help from many forest animals who join him in a big battle against Ravana’s army. The exciting part of the story is when Rama defeats Ravana, showing that good can win over evil.
During Dussehra, people burn large models of Ravana, his brother Kumbhkarana, and his son to remember this victory. Ravana is often shown with ten heads, which can mean he was very smart or had ten bad qualities. This reminds us that everyone has the potential for both good and bad.
The second story of Dussehra is about Goddess Durga and the demon Mahishasura. Mahishasura was a strong demon who got a special power that made him almost unbeatable. But instead of doing good, he scared people, so the gods decided to help.
They created Goddess Durga, a powerful warrior with magical weapons. She fought Mahishasura for nine days and finally defeated him on the tenth day, which is celebrated as Dussehra. This story shows the victory of good over evil and the strength of women.
Both stories teach us important lessons about using our talents and powers wisely. They remind us that our intelligence, strength, and other abilities should be used to help others. For example, Ravana could have used his intelligence to help his people, and Mahishasura could have used his power to protect the innocent.
The stories encourage us to think about how we use our own qualities. Are we using our intelligence to help others, or are we using it selfishly? Dussehra reminds us to use our abilities responsibly and to make a positive impact on the world.
As we celebrate Dussehra, let’s remember to use our strengths wisely. Whether it’s through being kind, helping friends, or supporting our communities, we can all help make the world a better place. Happy Dussehra!
Create Your Own Story: Imagine you are a hero like Lord Rama or Goddess Durga. Write a short story about a time when you used your special talents to help someone or solve a problem. Share your story with your family or friends and discuss how you can use your abilities to do good in real life.
Build a Good vs. Evil Collage: Gather old magazines, newspapers, or printouts and cut out pictures or words that represent good qualities (like kindness, bravery, and honesty) and bad qualities (like greed, anger, and selfishness). Create a collage by gluing these onto a piece of paper, showing the battle between good and evil. Discuss with your family which qualities you think are most important and why.
Observe and Reflect: Over the next week, pay attention to how people around you use their talents and abilities. Write down examples of when you see someone using their skills for good, like helping a friend or being kind. At the end of the week, share your observations with your class or family and talk about how you can apply these lessons in your own life.
