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The Dussehra festivities began with the Vijayanagar kings as early as the 14th-15th Century. The festival played a historical role in the 14th-century Vijayanagara Empire. Where it was called Mahanavami and the festivities are shown in the relief artwork on the outer wall of the Hazara Rama temple of Hampi.
The Italian traveler Conti described the festival's intensity and importance as a grandeur religious and martial event with royal support. The event revered Durga as the warrior goddess some texts refer to her as Chamundeshwari. The celebrations hosted athletic competitions singing and dancing fireworks a pageantry military parade and charitable giving to the public.
After the fall of the Vijayanagar to the Deccan Sultanates, these Hindu celebrations came to an end under Muslim rulers. The Wodeyars of Mysore formed a kingdom in Southern parts of the Vijayanagara Empire and continued the Mahanavami Dussehra festival celebration a tradition started initially by Raja Wodeyar I 1578-1617 CE in mid-September 1610 at Srirangapatna.
On Vijayadashami, the traditional Dussehra procession locally known as Jumbo Safari is held on the streets of Mysore city. The main attraction of this procession is the idol of the Goddess Chamundeshwari which is placed on a golden mantapa which is around 750 kilograms of gold on the top of a decorated elephant. This idol is worshipped by the royal couple and other invitees before it is taken around in the procession. Colorful tableaux, dance groups, music bands, decorated elephants, horses, and camels form a part of the procession which starts from the Mysore Palace and culminates at a place called Bannimantap.
Where the banana tree Prosopis spicigera is worshipped. According to a legend of the Mahabharata, the banana tree was used by the Pandavas to hide their weapons during their one-year period of Agnatavasa living life incognito. Before undertaking any warfare, the kings traditionally worshipped this tree to help them emerge victorious in the war. The Dussehra festivities would culminate on the night of Vijayadashami with an event held on the grounds at Bannimantap called Panjina Kavayatthu torch-light parade.
In Mysore, India the Vijayadashami Elephant procession during Mysore Dussehra is called Jumbo Safari from the British during their control of Mysore State. The original name of this procession is Jumbi Safari going to the Shami Banni tree. Now Goddess Chamundeshwari is taken in procession on an Elephant. But the Jumbo name is still intact.
After the Jamboo Safari, a torchlight parade takes place in the evening at the Bannimantap Parade Grounds.
Dussehra/ dasher/ Dussehra is the typical Indian festival celebrated by all Indians on Vijaya Dashami. On this day everyone worships all the types of equipment in their house. Students adore their books. And this year is celebrated with great joy. Ravana Dahan is a special attraction to the audience on this festival day.
On this day, the instinct like Ravana is destroyed. On this day everyone eats something sweet at home or some people even eat meat. In Maharashtra, Puran Poli is a special meal for all people and everyone enjoys it. All the houses are Lighting sparkle. God is worshiped. Lord Rama is worshiped on this day.
Many people greet each other in different ways to emphasize the importance of this festival. On this festival, all the gold, silver, and ornaments in the house are worshiped. We greet each other on the occasion of Dussehra but if some of our relatives and loved ones are far away from us, we wish them in digital form with this in mind.
Relatives and friends come to our places to visit us and wish us on this day. Everyone wears new clothes and enjoys this festival with great love.
