By Lalit Garg
Dussehra is a festival of struggle against evils, it is also an opportunity to struggle and overcome the crisis created by the Corona epidemic. Today, the culture of this inspiring and auspicious festival needs to be brought alive in order to fight against the evil like Corona. The question is who should protect this culture? Who should receive the rise of ideals? Who should write their first name in the establishment of life-values? It is very difficult to fight against evil. This practice of sharpness is very difficult. After all, how to fight against the evils hidden in the house, when only Ravana ( evil thoughts) is born every house whether it is Ravana who destroys the environment or the Ravana in the form of corona who threatens life of the common man, whether in the form of corruption, political criminalization, as communal haters, whether it is Ravana who create war-like conditions on the borders constantly by neighbouring nations like China-Pakistan, whether those who make education, medicine and justice trade In form of? We not only have to change the polluted and deformed ways of living, but also the reasons that repeatedly force us to drink gulp of poisonous conditions like corona. It is necessary to defeat and burn these types of Ravan, only then will balance and peace be established in life.
Vijayadashami-Dussehra Ashwin Shukla Dashami is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Dussehra marks the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana of Lanka. Lord Rama is the symbol of truth and Ravana the power of evil. Therefore, Dussehra is a very important festival of good and evil, truth on untruth and light on darkness. On this day effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna and son Meghnad are lit in the open space. Dussehra also has a cultural aspect. It is also a festival to add cultural unity and integrity to the country. This festival is celebrated in different parts of the country according to the culture there, through this festival everyone’s voice and purpose is to destroy evil and encourage well.
Vijayadashami is the last day or tenth day of Navratri, which means that you have conquered all the three qualities of Tamas, Rajas or Sattva, you have conquered them. You went through these three qualities, saw all three, participated in all three, but you were not connected or tied to any of these three, you conquered them. This is Vijayadashami, the day of your victory and this year this festival will also be presented as a festival of victory over an epidemic like Corona, and along with the burning and ravages of Corona will also be burnt on this day.
Dussehra is also a festival of �Shakti�, �Karma� and Puja of Shakti, on this day people start a new work, arms-worship is done. In ancient times, kings used to go on a battle march on this day praying for victory. Indian culture is very rich and gives priority to their ethical values first. The celebration of Dussehra has been kept so that heroism is manifested in the blood of the individual and society. The festival of Dussehra provides the inspiration for the renunciation of ten types of sins – work, anger, greed, temptation, matsar, ego, laziness, violence and theft. Today, celebrating the festival of Dussehra, the biggest need is to burn the inner Ravana. Because of how the journey of honest efforts progressed, when in the beginning, it seemed that the work which I could not do till now, how can we let others do the same.
How narrow is the thought of man’s mind that I am not only bad but no one else should be good. It is necessary to burn Ravana of this narrow thought. Indian culture has always been a supporter of bravery and self respect. Lord Rama left this day to fight with Ravana. Maratha Ratna Shivaji also protected Hinduism against Aurangzeb by departing on the same day. There are many examples in Indian history when Hindu kings used to leave on this day. Today the problem of environmental pollution is taking frightful form, the corona epidemic is wreaking havoc.
Along with eradicating our own sins on Dussehra; the need is also to clean the hearts of the people. The need is to make those dark streets so that the future generations never deviate from their goals. There is no need to start searching for truth where there is no logic, no doubt, no haste, no chaos, and no deal of selfishness nor support of mindless mischief. There we find the truth ourselves. We have to be like human beings who are compassionate. Dussehra should become a challenge for those who dream of the heights of success by becoming indolent, lazy, downright, desperate, and infirm but do not accept the resolve to start a new lifestyle by erasing their weaknesses.
The festival of Dussehra is a festival of positive attitude and positivity towards life. It is most important to keep a festive and zealous attitude towards every aspect of life and to celebrate it like a festival. The secret of life is to see everything without seriousness, but to participate fully in it – just like a game. It is very important to try ignorance. Man considers evil to be evil, he does it again and again. This is a problem. Small sins happen inadvertently, but big sins never happen inadvertently. The evil man does it intentionally. Every major sin is being done deliberately in this world. A great sin like corona has also been deliberate. You are walking on the path. If the ant dies under the feet, it is an unintentional sin. But someone’s throat cannot be cut unconsciously; life of the whole world cannot be inadvertently put in trouble. It has been done very deliberately. Knowing why we are doing evil – the answer to this matter should be sought and perhaps to find the answer to this question, festivals like Dussehra are celebrated.
(Lalit Garg is a Journalist, columnist, writer and member of Rajbhasha samiti, Ministry of Home Affairs. He can be reached at�lalitgarg11@gmail.com)
