Vijaya Dashmi or Dusherra is on Monday, 28th September. Celebrated to mark the slaying of Ravana by Ram, this day represents the victory of good. As a child, I have vivid memories of going to the Ram Lila performances- small and big- and watching the Ramayana unfold. I was mesmerized with the elaborate costumes, the music and dances and above all the battle between the Monkey army of Ram and the Rakshasa army of Ravana.

The highlight was the burning of the grand effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnaad on Dusherra day. We’d eagerly await for the evening to fall, the rolling in of the giant effigies in to the open grounds amidst an ocean of people, and for Ram (of course, not the real one) to shoot a burning arrow at Ravana and brother and son! The bursting of crackers, the swirls and twirls of flames and fireworks as they leaped into the sky, the cheers and celebrations as poor Ravana came down -all of this is imprinted in my memory. How my kids would be enthralled by all this!

Dusherra is also special because it leads into the whirlwind of Diwali celebrations, about which we will be blogging plenty.

We wish all of you a very fun and happy Dusherra!