Fast Facts
Venue:Kota, Rajasthan
Significance: Religious Festival
Duration of Festival: 1days
Month of Celebration: September to October
Next Date of Event: 15 to 17 Oct 2010, 4 to 6Oct 2011 2011
Reaching There: Jaipur is the nearest airport for Kota. The main bus station in Kota is located on Bundi Road near the eastern bank of the Chambal River. Many trains pass through and stop here.
Kota Dussehra, RajasthanWhen you visit Rajasthan and hear tolls ringing to commemorate a special event, you will witness the celebrations of Dussera. It is the time when virtue wins over evil, the time when people rejoice for the victory of righteousness. Dussehra is the Tenth Day of the bright half of Ashvin. Also called as Vijayadashmi, the festival is celebrated at length and breadth of India. However, the grace of festival in Kota is different, much invigorating. People observe the festival to memorialize the victory of Ram over Ravana.
Some rituals of Goddess Durga are also carried out on this day as the festival is preceeded by Navaratri, the nine days of the worship of Goddess Durga. There is one legend that on this day Rama killed Ravana who nobbled Sita, the wife of Rama, accompanied by his brother Lakshman and follower Hanuman. One more legend related to Katusa and his preacher is associated with the festival.
Attractions of Kota Festival
Ram Lila is one of the major attractions of Kota Festival. People enact the episodes of the epic Ramayana on this day. Spectators flock to see this enactment. Many devotional programs are also organized on this day. Marked with splendor and heritage, the festival is observed with great reverence. Thousands of people horde to see the procession headed with much pomp and show. It is good time to see fantastic items of the rural and urban artists. Who knows! You could strike the best deal.
The effigies of demon Ravana, Kumbhakarana and Meghnad are set on fire on this day to indicate the victory of good over evil. These effigies are filled with crackers usually and can be as tall as 75 feet. Hey!if you are scared of crackers you can close your eyes and shut your ears. But then you miss the joy of sight and sound. Villagers dress vibrantly and offer their prayers to Lord Rama. Generally a young child plays the role of Rama and shoots an arrow of fire to burn Ravana and his 'Swarn Lanka'. The famous artists of various regions are invited for some exclusive performances in the cultural programs. The whole episode is a real pleasure to experience.
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