Halloween and Dussehra: Witches and Gods

Halloween and Dussehra: Witches and Gods

Though in different ways, yet Halloween is celebrated in most parts of the world. Homes are decorated with pumpkins, mums, candles and fall colors. Children dressed in different costumes go for trick-or-treat to collect candy. It is considered as the festival of witches or New Year for witches in Salem USA. It is the day when the dead are remembered. People in some parts of the world believe that during the night of the Halloween, the world of spirits and the world of mortals exchange energies.

To get disguised, and to protect themselves from the real spirits roaming during the night of Halloween, children and adults color their faces black, and dress like ghosts. Also, Halloween is the festival of harvest. Produce is kept inside for winter; the leaves change their color and start falling.

As well as during fall, different parts of the world have their own kind of festivals and celebrations according to the local lore and traditions. In India during the fall, between October and November, ‘Dussehra’ is celebrated by all classes through out the country as a festival of victory of good over evil. It is celebrated nine days and the grand finale is the tenth day and is also called as ‘Vijaya Dasami’. This festival is also considered as the festival of harvest as most of the summer crops are harvested. The Hindu mythological connection to this festival is the epic hero Lord Rama, of Ramayana, killed the demon Ravana, and also Prince Arjuna third brother of the Pandavas of Mahabharata fought his cousin Duryodhana and saved the kingdom of King Viratha on this day. On this day all the houses are decorated with marigold flowers, mango leaves, turmeric, and Rangoli. In villages the school master leads his pupils in a procession to every house where the children are offered sweets by the residents. The children are dressed in different mythological characters and carry toy weapons like the bow and arrow and maces. The school master is also rewarded by the people of the village appropriately often by presenting him rice or money. Vehicles, tools of trade and occupation are cleaned and decorated by the men of the village. Lots of sweets are made in every house and exchanged on this day. The young girls of the village dressed in their best clothes, visit the temple in evening and pry goddess Parvathi seeking good marriage.

And at night, the effigies of the demons, Ravana, and his accomplices are burnt as a symbol of victory of good over evil. Dances, songs, and plays are held in public places all these ten days. The class and the economy barriers are often ignored and every one comes together during this festive season.