From watching Ram Leela and Ravan Dahan, to buying new clothes and toys, Dussehra always had a special place in our childhood. Celebrities s...
From watching Ram Leela and Ravan Dahan, to buying new clothes and toys, Dussehra always had a special place in our childhood. Celebrities share what the festival meant to them then and how things have changed now.
Charrul Malik
It seems like the
excitement of Dussehra from our childhood has faded away. We used to eagerly
wait for it all year long. Back then, we would watch Ramayana, go to open-ground Ramleelas, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere with tents. But now,
Dussehra has turned into just another holiday. We used to watch these events
with so much charm and enthusiasm. My twin sister and I, holding hands, dressed
alike, would go with our parents to the ground right behind our house in
Chandigarh. We would buy toy swords, masks, and other things connected to
Ramleela and Dussehra. I still remember buying those special glasses. The
memories are so vivid, like the burning effigy of Ravana, and we wouldn't
return home until the final firework burst from Ravana. It brings back memories
of when we used to go to Dussehra fairs, watch Ramleelas, and wonder about how
Ram would defeat Ravana. We were so excited. But now, Dussehra has become just
a holiday, and we focus more on celebrating Diwali with new clothes and
cleaning the house. It's sad that in Mumbai, there are very few places where
you can witness the burning of Ravana. Perhaps it's because we've moved from
the small town of Chandigarh to Mumbai, where it feels like everyone is lost in
their own lives, and the festive spirit is missing.
Aadesh Chaudhary
Indeed, times have
changed, and now people prefer to watch Ramleela on TV or the internet. Back
when there were no TVs or mobile phones, there was ample time, and I, too,
participated in Ramleela during my childhood. It felt different, like a distant
world in a different era. In our region, the festival season begins with
Navratri. Here in Bombay, we celebrate with events like Dandiya during Navratri
and Dussehra is not just a holiday. As an Indian, I enjoy every festival, from
playing Garba during Navratri to lighting fireworks on Dussehra and getting
ready for Diwali. It brings a unique joy and excitement. The significance of
Dussehra is that it symbolises the victory of good over evil. It encourages us
to reflect on our inner negativity, have a conversation with ourselves, and
strive to lead a positive life by following the path of Lord Rama. In essence,
Dussehra is about eliminating negativity from within and progressing towards a
more positive and fulfilling life.
Sheeba Akashdeep
Since I was not
born and brought up in India, I didn't get to do Ramleela and Raavan Dahan. But
strangely now I am an actor. The last couple of years I have been every year
and taking part in Ramleela. It is quite a big extravaganza. It used to happen
in Delhi but now because Ayodhya is being developed, it's done in Ayodhya too.
I was very happy to be part of it this time. Dussehra is an important family
occasion and one often gets a lot of new clothes, new things.
Anupama Solanki
I miss my childhood
days when I used to go to Ramleela with my parents. Those were super golden
days and I love those days. But, unfortunately, we have changed but the
Ramleela pattern hasn’t changed yet. It is still old and no new things happened
there but whenever I think about those days, I feel nostalgic. The good thing
is that still thousands of people go for Ramleelas. People enjoy the mela and
eat chaat pakodas and other yummy food there.
Shivangi Verma
Gone are the days
when people used to go to Ram Leela and Ravana. Dehan. It is a childhood thing.
Well, not just childhood. We shifted from Delhi to Bombay to pursue my career
and I remember till 2013. Every year, my family and I used to go to watch Dussehra
celebrations. Delhiites enjoy all the festivals wholeheartedly, and not just
the children, but the adults also enjoy them equally. If I had never come to
Bombay, even today I would have visited and continued my Dussehra ritual. I
think people who are working consider Dussehra as another holiday. But, for me,
it’s always going to be a festival where we used to get up in the morning and
have yummy food. My mom never used to cook at the festivals so technically it
was not our holiday. It was our mom’s holiday! So we used to eat from outside
and wear new clothes and my mom used to ask me and my sister to sleep early in
the afternoon because we knew that in the evenings is going to be really
tiring. So around 3:30pm, we used to go to watch Dussehra. We used to watch
Ravan Dahan at not just one place but multiple places in that area! And then I
also remember that they were a few sellers who used to sell Hanuman ka
gadda and a lot of musical instruments followed by balloons. I definitely would
love to buy them now too!
Bhuvnesh Mam
Dussehra has always been special to me. I have never considered it as just another holiday. Being born and brought up in Delhi, going to Ramlila Maidan to watch Ramayan and the Mela following it has been close to my heart. I fondly remember going to watch the burning of effigies every single year with my cousins and buying the bow and arrow. I still look forward to it. For me, Dussehra is the triumph of good over evil. I try to work on it on a societal level as well as on my individual self.
Megha Sharma
In the past, Indian
festivals were celebrated grandly, with families and friends coming together.
My upbringing in Punjab, with my mom’s army background, instilled a deep
connection to mythological stories and spirituality. I was encouraged to stay
rooted in our culture and heritage. However, nowadays, it seems like these
traditions are becoming more modern and less authentic. I believe that
preserving the authenticity of these celebrations is important. I have fond
memories of celebrating Dussehra, including watching Ravana effigies burn. This
tradition used to be upheld in my school as well. I remember my mom taking me
to watch Ramleela performances as a child. Her narrations of the Ramayana story
made the visuals even more captivating. That connection to our cultural stories
was enchanting, and it made a significant impact. Nowadays, that magic is
missing, and the excitement is diminished.
Simple Kaul
We used to watch
Ramleela during the festival of Dussehra. I remember as a child, we would visit
Ramleela fairs, and there used to be a lot of people there, especially in small
towns where it wasn't as common. We would come from far away to see the effigy
of Raavan being burned and then listen to the story. Every year, my parents
would explain to us why Raavan was defeated, which helped us learn about our
history and mythology. It's a great way to connect with our roots and
understand where we come from. Dussehra teaches us that good will always
triumph over evil, and evil will eventually be defeated.
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