Dussehra, Diwali, Holi and other Indian festivals are no longer unknown to the world. In fact, most Indian traditions and celebrations are being recognized globally, thanks to the large Indian diaspora living in all corners of the world, celebrating their vibrant culture no matter how far they stay from their homeland. 

Dussehra, one of the biggest events in the Indian festival calendar, is celebrated with much pomp and fervor by Hindus all across the world. The huge Indian diaspora in the United States (consisting of more than 4 million) gear up for Dussehra celebrations in USA with the same enthusiasm as the Indians celebrating this festival back home.     

How is Dussehra Celebrated in USA? 

It is not uncommon to see popular Dussehra traditions such as 9-day Durga Puja at pandals, garba dances, Ravana/Mahishasura effigy burning, etc. being followed on a grand scale in different US cities.

Within India itself, Dussehra is celebrated in different ways in different parts of the country and for different reasons. While in the north, the festival celebrates the triumph of Lord Rama over Ravana, in the southern part of India, Dussehra commemorates the event of Goddess Durga slaying the demon Mahishasura. The burning of the massive effigies of Ravana/Mahishasura, which signifies the ultimate victory of good over evil, is a common sighting throughout India, and this ritual is also followed in some parts of the USA on the day of Vijaya Dashami.  

Dandiya and Garba dances, which are an indispensable part of Gujarat’s Navratri celebrations, take place in many cities across the USA. Several Indians living in the US gather for the traditional dance programs dressed up in traditional attire and dancing to the traditional folk music to their heart’s content, thus spreading the festive cheer on a foreign land.   

Various Indian American committees and associations such as American Telugu Association, Bengali Association etc. also arrange a variety of cultural and entertainment programs on the occasion of the many Indian festivals, including Dussehra. Committee members and volunteers begin their preparations for the festival much early. At some places, Ram Leela – stage plays based on Ramayana – are also hosted during Navratri.

What are the Best Places to Witness Dussehra Celebrations in USA?

Every neighborhood in the US with a significant size of Indians celebrates the festival just like the way it is celebrated in India. The large number of Indians living in New York, New Jersey, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, Boston, and Seattle celebrate Dussehra in an elaborate manner. Of all these places, New Jersey is known to host the most magnificent Dussehra Celebrations in USA. Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) and other associations set up huge decorated pandals across New Jersey for Duja Puja during Navratri.

Also read: Indian Restaurants in USA

Places to Witness Durga Puja in New Jersey 2022

If you are a New Jersey resident or are taking Indian Eagle international flights to this city ahead of the festival this year to visit your kith and kin in the US, here are some of the places you can visit during Dussehra and take part in Durga Puja rituals. 

• Ananda Mandir Durga Puja

Date: 1-5 October 2022

Location: Ananda Mandir, 269 Cedar Grove Lane, Somerset

• Garden State Cultural Association Durga Puja

Date: 8-9 October 2022

Location: Plainfield High School, 950 Park Avenue, Plainfield

• Indian Community Center Of Garden State

Date: 24-25 September 2022

Location: Parsippany High school, 309 Baldwin Rd, Parsippany

• Bengali Cultural Society NJ

Date: 30 Sept- 2 Oct 2022

Location: Indian Cultural Center, 820 NJ-73, Marlton,

• Bharat Sevashram Sangha Durga Puja

Date: 1-5 October 2022

Location: 3490 Route-27 Kendall Park 

History of Dussehra Celebrations in USA

The history of Dussehra celebrations in USA can be traced back to 1999. An Indian American community is credited with organizing the first Navratri celebrations in USA, which received a huge amount of support from Indians living in the US and only grew grander and more popular year after year. It came to be known as the Annual Grand Dussehra Festival. 

Nothing might quite match up to Dussehra in India, but taking part in Dussehra festivities in USA can surely spark the familiar festive spirit in you and make you feel more connected to your homeland.

The post Dussehra Celebrations in USA & Durga Puja Pandals in NJ 2022 appeared first on Travel Blog | Travel Inspiration, Tips and News | Travel Diary.

Most of the major Hindu festivals are a celebration of the good over the evil! Dussehra or Vijayadashami, celebrated on the 10th day (Dashami) of the Ashwin month according to the Hindu calendar, also falls under this category. Whether commemorating the triumph of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura or that of Lord Rama over Ravana, the essence of Dussehra lies in the victory of Dharma over Adharma. Dussehra 2021 will be celebrated on October 15.

Dussehra celebrations in India:

The festivities usually begin 9 days before (called Navaratris) and culminate with Dussehra on the 10th day. Each day of the Navaratris is dedicated to different aspects of Goddess Shakti. Devotees observe fast and perform pooja to the divine avatars of Shakti.

Dussehra celebrations in different parts of India are characterized by cheerful cultural fairs and activities, plays and dance performances, fasts and feasts, bonfires and the burning of towering effigies of Ravana. Fly to India, join the festivities, and experience ecstasy!

Kolkata’s Durga Pujo:

Durga Pujo is the biggest festival in West Bengal and is certainly celebrated in the grandest manner, especially in Kolkata. With the entire city decked up in colorful lights and dotted with elaborately decorated Puja Pandals housing imposing idols of Ma Durga, Dussehra in ‘The City of Joy’ is unlike anywhere else in India! Durga Pujo begins on the sixth day of Navratri and ends with the immersion of the idol on the tenth day, i.e., Dussehra. The festivities include cultural rituals (like Kumari Pooja, Sindoor Khela), traditional dhunuchi dance to dhaak beats, and a resplendent food scene (Bhog).

Mysore’s Royal Dasara:

Dussehra, called Dasara in Karnataka, is celebrated with tremendous pomp and splendor in Mysore. The royal Mysore Palace dazzles with the radiance cast by 1,00,000 light bulbs arranged to mark the Dussehra celebrations. Several cultural programs, fun activities, competitions, food fests, flower shows, exhibitions, etc. are organized at various venues. The highlights of Mysore Dasara celebrations are the Jamboo Savari (a traditional procession) and the torchlight parade on the 10th day.

Navratri in Gujarat:

Navratri in Gujarat is a nine-night cultural fest of traditional dance and music! Men and women dress up in colorful traditional attire and perform folk dances like Garba and Dandiya to pay their tribute to Ma Ambe, an aspect of Goddess Shakti. Witnessing the locals indulge in rhythmic dance after the evening aarti is the best thing to do during the Navratri celebrations in Gujarat! You’ll love the festive aura replete with zest and devotion.

Ram Leela in Delhi and Varanasi:

Dussehra celebrations of Delhi and Varanasi feature Ram Leela, the theatrical performance of events from the great Hindu epic The Ramayana. Varanasi’s 200-year-old tradition of staging Ram Leela at Ramnagar draws many tourists to India during the festival season. Huge stages will be set up at places like Ramlila Maidan, Red Fort grounds, etc. in Delhi, where devotees throng to view the life story of their beloved Ram and Sita. The celebrations reach their zenith on the 10th day with Ravan Dahan amid the spectacular display of fireworks. The collapsing effigies of Ravana, Meghnad, and Kumbhakaran are symbolic of ‘virtue overpowering vice’.

Lord Raghunath’s Rath Yatra in Kullu Valley:

The beautiful valley of Kullu in Himachal Pradesh is known for its large-scale Dussehra celebrations that last for a week. Dussehra in Kullu is associated with local folklore of Raja Jagat Singh’s salvation by the grace of Lord Ragunath. Hence, a grand Rath Yatra (procession) is organized every year, and the idols of various local gods and goddesses are carried to the Dhalpur Maidan with great fanfare. Music, dance, and food are integral to Kullu’s Dussehra celebrations. The festival concludes with the burning of a heap of dry leaves, grass, and twigs by the side of the Beas River, alluding to Lanka Dahan.

Dussehra as a tribal festival in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar:

Bastar’s Dussehra, celebrated for 75 days, is one of the longest festivals in the world! Interestingly, Dussehra celebrations in Bastar are dedicated to the local deity, Devi Danteshwari. Different tribes come together for the festival arrangements and harmoniously practice their respective rituals to express their gratitude towards nature’s bounty. The major attraction is the Rath Yatra, in which a massive 8-wheeled chariot (made by the locals) is tugged along the brightly illuminated streets by more than 400 people!

The post 6 Best Places To Witness Dussehra Celebrations in India appeared first on Travel Blog | Travel Inspiration, Tips and News | Travel Diary.