Why is Dussehra celebrated differently across India? From Mysuru to Bastar, traditions explained

For many Indians, Dussehra means a giant Ravana going up in flames. But the festival is celebrated differently across the country. In Mysuru, Goddess Chamundeshwari is taken out in a grand procession, while in Kullu, people bring their village deities to join the celebrations. In Bastar, Dussehra does not involve burning Ravana at all. So, why is the festival celebrated so differently across India?Dussehra celebrations reflect the traditions of different regions. (Unsplash)1. Delhi and north India: Rama, Ravana and RamlilaIn many parts of north India, Dussehra is linked to the story of the Ramayana. During Ramlila, people perform scenes from the story of Lord Rama and Ravana. On the last day, Ravana and other characters are burnt in many places to mark Rama’s victory.According to UNESCO, Ramlila is a traditional performance of the Ramayana involving song, narration, recital and dialogue. It is performed across northern India during Dussehra and was added to UNESCO’s Representative L of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.(Also Read: Pikachu aboard ISS: 5 times astronauts including Shubhanshu Shukla flew plush toys into space and why)2. Mysuru: When the Goddess takes centre stageDussehra takes a dinctly royal form in Mysuru. According to the Karnataka Tourism website, Mysuru Dasara is a 10-day celebration centred on Goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Mysuru.The festival culminates in the Jamboo Savari, when the idol of Chamundeshwari is carried in a golden howdah on a decorated elephant. The procession, along with the illuminated Mysuru Palace, cultural programmes and traditional performances, reflects the city’s royal hory.3. Kullu: Hundreds of village deities come togetherKullu Dussehra has another unusual feature where the festival becomes a gathering of local deities. According to the Himachal Pradesh Tourism website, Lord Raghunath is taken in a wooden chariot to Dhalpur ground at the beginning of the week-long celebration. More than 200 village deities, carried in palanquins, then join the festivities.The tradition is linked to Lord Raghunath, the presiding deity of Kullu, and gives the festival a dinctly local character.4. Bastar: A Dussehra without RavanaPerhaps the biggest surprise comes from Bastar in Chhattisgarh, where Dussehra is not centred on Rama’s victory over Ravana. According to Incredible India, Bastar Dussehra lasts approximately 75 days and is rooted in the worship of Maa Danteshwari, local deities, tribal traditions and the region’s royal hory.There is no Ravana figure to burn. Instead, the celebrations include rituals, the arrival of local deities, traditional chariot processions and community participation. The festival dates back around 600 years and has evolved around the religious and cultural traditions of Bastar.(Also Read: World Space Week: From astronauts to paying tours, a look at countries that have sent humans to space)These traditions show why Dussehra cannot be defined a single ritual across India. While the festival marks the victory of good over evil, the stories, deities and customs associated with it have changed from one region to another.