Festival of Dussehra

Dussehra is an important festival. It is celebrated all over the country in different forms. In Bengal, it is celebrated as Durga Puja. In the rest of the country, it is celebrated in the honor of the victory of Rama over Ravan.
People belonging to the warrior class worship their weapons on this day. They believe that weapons are a symbol of the Goddess Durga People living in these areas sacrifice goats and lambs on the day. The people belonging to northern India, celebrate this festival by organizing Ramlila. These Ramlilas are an enactment of the life of Ram. They start nine days before the festival. On the tenth day, the effigies of Ravana, Meghnath, and Kumbhkarna are burned by the shooting of the arrows by Ram and Laxman. They come to the ground on beautifully decorated chariots,
The city of Mysore celebrates this festival by taking out a large procession, which includes horses, state police, folk artists, drummers, etc. The Maharaja of Mysore also takes part in the procession. He sits on a decorated elephant. The city of Mysore is decorated with flowers and colored bulbs. The palace of the Maharaja of Mysore is festooned with flowers and electric bulbs
All these rituals are witnessed by thousands of people, who also take part in them. There is an air of festivities all over the place, Shops and markets are decorated. People wear their finest clothes. Children and young people are excited. Everyone greets each other. People belonging to different religions also take part in the festivities.
This festival has great social value. New bonds of friendships are formed during the nine days if festivities. Everyone works together to make these festivals a great success.
Vocabulary-Enactment-dramatize. Effigies-statues. Festooned-decorate, hang something in a curve or a loop. Festivities-celebrations.