| DUSSEHRA
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Why Dussehra ?
This is one question that
arises and there doesn’t seem to be a consensus on the legend behind it. However, the
main legend as for the residents of Andhra Pradesh goes is the Victory of Goddess Durga
over the demon king Mahishasura. The other two being, one related to Ramayana and the
other to Mahabharatha.
 Legend says that Mahishasura, the demon king has been troubling the world
with his cruel acts. The demon was invincible because he was blessed with the boon of
immortality by Lord Shiva after a severe penance. The demon however, out of a superiority
complex happens to avoid the women from the list of his enemies who are likely to hurt
him. This being the only way out the Gods of the heavens pray to Adi Shakthi for
rescue. She then drawing the powers from all the supreme Gods fights a fierce battle with
Mahishasura for nine days in nine different forms ( called Nava Durgas ). After the
fierce battle for the nine days, Goddess Durga realises that the demon also had the
capability to take a rebirth from each drop of his blood that falls on the ground. So, the
Goddess kills him with her trishul by keeping the body on the tongue of Sri Kalika
Devi. This victory is celebrated on the tenth day as Vijayadasami.
Another legend says that
the Great Demon King Ravana was killed by Lord Rama after a long fierce
battle on the Vijayadasami Day and thus the festival.
Yet another widely held
legend is that Pandavas in Mahabharatha after the fourteen years of their Aranyavasa
have resumed their weapons from atop the Jammi tree, where they
have left them earlier. Thus is the festivity of Dasara. It is also believed that the
bundle of weapons appeared like a hanging corpse to the strangers and was guarded by a
snake.
Dussehra is celebrated with
aplomb in almost all the pilgrimages of the Goddess. But, Dussehra at Vijayawada is one of
memorable experience when the presiding deity Kanaka Durga wears a festive look and people
go in procession and offer prayers.
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