From watching Ram Leela and Ravan Dahan to buying new clothes and toys, Dussehra always had a special place in our childhood.
On October 24, Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami is celebrated all across the nation. It is called Dasara, Dashain, and Navratri Puja in different regions and it is the day when good triumphs over evil. From watching Ram Leela and Ravan Dahan to buying new clothes and toys, Dussehra always had a special place in our childhood.
Celebrities share what the festival meant to them then and how things have changed now.
It seems like the excitement of Dussehra from our childhood has faded away. We used to eagerly wait for it all year long. Back then, we would watch Ramayana, go to open-ground Ramleelas, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere with tents. But now, Dussehra has turned into just another holiday. We used to watch these events with so much charm and enthusiasm. My twin sister and I, holding hands, dressed alike, would go with our parents to the ground right behind our house in Chandigarh. We would buy toy swords, masks, and other things connected to Ramleela and Dussehra. I still remember buying those special glasses. The memories are so vivid, like the burning effigy of Ravana, and we wouldn't return home until the final firework burst from Ravana. It brings back memories of when we used to go to Dussehra fairs, watch Ramleelas, and wonder about how Ram would defeat Ravana. We were so excited. But now, Dussehra has become just a holiday, and we focus more on celebrating Diwali with new clothes and cleaning the house. It's sad that in Mumbai, there are very few places where you can witness the burning of Ravana. Perhaps it's because we've moved from the small town of Chandigarh to Mumbai, where it feels like everyone is lost in their own lives, and the festive spirit is missing.
Indeed, times have changed, and now people prefer to watch Ramleela on TV or the internet. Back when there were no TVs or mobile phones, there was ample time, and I, too, participated in Ramleela during my childhood. It felt different, like a distant world in a different era. In our region, the festival season begins with Navratri. Here in Bombay, we celebrate with events like Dandiya during Navratri and Dussehra is not just a holiday. As an Indian, I enjoy every festival, from playing Garba during Navratri to lighting fireworks on Dussehra and getting ready for Diwali. It brings a unique joy and excitement. The significance of Dussehra is that it symbolises the victory of good over evil. It encourages us to reflect on our inner negativity, have a conversation with ourselves, and strive to lead a positive life by following the path of Lord Rama. In essence, Dussehra is about eliminating negativity from within and progressing towards a more positive and fulfilling life.
Since I was not born and brought up in India, I didn't get to do Ramleela and Raavan Dahan. But strangely now I am an actor. The last couple of years I have been every year and taking part in Ramleela. It is quite a big extravaganza. It used to happen in Delhi but now because Ayodhya is being developed, it's done in Ayodhya too. I was very happy to be part of it this time. Dussehra is an important family occasion and one often gets a lot of new clothes and new things.
I miss my childhood days when I used to go to Ramleela with my parents. Those were super golden days and I love those days. But, unfortunately, we have changed but the Ramleela pattern hasn’t changed yet. It is still old and no new things happened there but whenever I think about those days, I feel nostalgic. The good thing is that still thousands of people go for Ramleelas. People enjoy the mela and eat chaat pakodas and other yummy food there.
Gone are the days when people used to go to Ram Leela and Ravana. Dehan. It is a childhood thing. Well, not just childhood. We shifted from Delhi to Bombay to pursue my career and I remember till 2013. Every year, my family and I used to go to watch Dussehra celebrations. Delhiites enjoy all the festivals wholeheartedly, and not just the children, the adults also enjoy equally. If I had never come to Bombay, even today I would have visited and continued my Dussehra ritual. I think people who are working consider Dussehra as another holiday. But, for me, it’s always going to be a festival where we used to get up in the morning and have yummy food. My mom never used to cook at the festivals so technically it was not our holiday. It was our mom’s holiday! So we used to eat from outside and wear new clothes and my mom used to ask me and my sister to sleep early in the afternoon because we knew that in the evenings it was going to be really tiring. So around 3:30 pm, we used to go to watch Dussehra. We used to watch Ravan Dahan at not just one place but multiple places in that area! And then I also remember that they were few sellers where they used to sell Hanuman ka gadda and a lot of musical instruments followed by balloons. I definitely would love to buy them now too!
Dussehra has always been special to me. I have never considered it as just another holiday. Being born and brought up in Delhi, going to Ramlila Maidan to watch Ramayan and the Mela following it has been close to my heart.
I fondly remember going to watch the burning of effigies every single year with my cousins and buying the bow and arrow. I still look forward to it. For me, Dussehra is the triumph of good over evil. I try to work on it on a societal level as well as on my individual self.
In the past, Indian festivals were celebrated grandly, with families and friends coming together. My upbringing in Punjab, with my mom’s army background, instilled a deep connection to mythological stories and spirituality. I was encouraged to stay rooted in our culture and heritage. However, nowadays, it seems like these traditions are becoming more modern and less authentic. I believe that preserving the authenticity of these celebrations is important. I have fond memories of celebrating Dussehra, including watching Ravana effigies burn. This tradition used to be upheld in my school as well. I remember my mom taking me to watch Ramleela performances as a child. Her narrations of the Ramayana story made the visuals even more captivating. That connection to our cultural stories was enchanting, and it made a significant impact. Nowadays, that magic is missing, and the excitement is diminished.
We used to watch Ramleela during the festival of Dussehra. I remember as a child, we would visit Ramleela fairs, and there used to be a lot of people there, especially in small towns where it wasn't as common. We would come from far away to see the effigy of Raavan being burned and then listen to the story. Every year, my parents would explain to us why Raavan is defeated, which helped us learn about our history and mythology. It's a great way to connect with our roots and understand where we come from. Dussehra teaches us that good will always triumph over evil, and evil will eventually be defeated.