|
Kota (October)
Dussehra means in Culrural Rajasthan travel the Tenth Day, being the 10th day
of the bright half of Ashvin. This day is also
known as Vijaydashmi, or the Victory Tenth, Because
of the victory of Ram over Ravana. Its a Cultural
Rajasthan Fair
Dussehra Festival
Dussehra Festival is
One of the big Cultural Rajasthan festivals celebrated in most parts
of India is Dussehra. The Dussehra festival is celebrated
with zest and festivities as it also marks the
beginning of the winter season after the long,
unbearable, hot summer. Dussehra marks the victory
of Ram over the demon king Ravana, and the rescue
of his wife Sita. In Indian Cultural tour, north India, gigantic
effigies of the ten-headed Ravana and his brothers
are set aflame amidst bursting of crackers. Fairs
are usually held on this occasion with lots to
eat, buy and enjoy.
As Dussehra Festival is preceded by the Navratri or the
nine days of the worship of Goddess Durga, some
rituals related to the Goddess are also carried
out that day. The rituals of Durga Puja involve
the usual puja of goddess Durga along with Lord
Ram. On this day in Satyug, Ram (the eighth
incarnation of Lord Vishnu), killed the great
demon and king of Lanka, Ravan, who had abducted
Ram's wife Sita. Ram, along, with his brother
Lakshman, follower Hanuman, and an army of monkeys
fought a great battle for ten days to rescue his
wife Sita.
According to another story, Kautsa, the young son
of Devdatt, a Brahmin, was living in the city of
Paithan. After studying under the guidance of
Rishi Varatantu, he insisted on his guru accepting
a present, or gurudakshina. Initially the guru
refused but later asked for 140
 million gold
coins, one hundred million for each of the
subjects taught. The obedient student went to the
King Raghu to ask for the money, as the king was
renowned for his generosity. Within three days the
king made the God of Wealth Kuber make a rain of
gold coins near the shanu and apati trees. After
giving the promised amount to the guru, Kautsa
distributed the rest of the coins among the needy
on the day of Dussehra. Even today, in Ayodhya,
the capital of King Raghu, people loot the leaves
of the apati trees and present to each other as
sone or gold.
Activities
Dussehra Festival is one of the significant Hindu
festivals, celebrated with much joy and happiness
in the entire country. The occasion marks the
triumph of Lord Ram over Ravana, the victory of
good over evil. Brilliantly decorated tableaux and
processions depicting various episodes from Ram's
life are taken out. On the tenth day, or the
Vijayadasami, colossal effigies of Ravana, his
brother Kumbhkarna and son Meghnad are placed in
vast open spaces. Actors dressed as Ram, his
consort Sita, and brother Lakshman arrive and
shoot arrows of fire at these effigies, which are
stuffed with firecrackers. The result is a
deafening blast, and an explosion of sound and
light enhanced by the shouts of merriment and
triumph of the spectators.
Also part of the celebration is the Ram Lila or
the dramatic depiction of episodes from the lives
of Ram, Sita, and Lakshman. All the regions across
the country have evolved their own distinctive
style, and performances at different places are
done in the local language.
This was also the day to worship the weapons.
According to legend, Arjuna, one of the Pandav
princes, hid his weapons in a shami tree when the
Pandavs were banished into the forests. After one
year he returned from the forest and on the day of
Dussehra, he retrieved his weapons and worshipped
them along with the shami tree. Hence the custom
of worshipping weapons on this day started.
History
The town of Kota was once the part of the
erstwhile Rajput kingdom of Bundi. It became a
separate princely state in the 17th century. Apart
from the several monuments that reflect the
erstwhile glory of the town, Kota is also known
for its palaces and gardens. Kota is located in
the southern part of the state of Rajasthan, in
the northwestern part of India. It is located on
the eastern bank of Chambal River and is drained
by its tributaries. Kota is on a
 high
sloping tableland forming a part of the Malwa
Plateau. The Mokandarra hills run from southeast
to northwest axis of the town. It is 36 km from
Bundi. Summers are quite hot (April–June) while
winters are cool (October–February). It
experiences scant rainfall between June and
August.
The history of Kota is linked with the history of
Bundi. Both Bundi and Kota came under the rule of
the Chauhans in the 12th century. The descendents
of the Chauhans set up their capital at Bundi and
ruled from here. While Bundi was the capital, Kota
formed the land granted to the eldest son of the
ruler. This arrangement continued until 1624. In
1624, Emperor Jahangir, the great Mughal ruler,
partitioned Bundi and made Kota an independent
state. Rao Madho Singh, son of the ruler of Bundi,
ascended the throne of Kota. It became a part of
the British Empire in 1818 and later became a part
of the Indian state of Rajasthan, when it gained
independence in 1947.
Places to see
In Kota, there are some impressive buildings, some
from early days and some built in the beginning of
the 20th century. Prominent among them are Jag
Mandir, Brij Vilas Palace, Umaid Bhawan Palace and
Brij Raj Bhawan. Tha to the presence of the
Chambal river, Kota abounds in Lakes and Gardens.
|
