Dussehra in Myanmar

When did the Dussehra in Myanmar start?

The first recorded date of Dussehra in Myanmar being celebrated on October 12 was in the year 1860.

About Dussehra in Myanmar Holiday

Dussehra is an important celebration of religious devotion, victory of good over evil, and a joyous celebration of the beginning of winter in Myanmar. As the days turn cooler and the skies fill with bright stars, the streets of Myanmar fill with dance, parades, music and the joyous festivities of Dussehra.

Dussehra is an ancient holiday believed to be celebrated in the ruins of Angkor Wat centuries ago. A celebration of Lord Rama’s victory over the demon Ravana, Dussehra is traditionally celebrated with colorful processions, feasts, and prayers. People light lamps and make offerings to Shiva and Goddess Durga. The celebrations continue through the night when bonfires are lit and fireworks are set off.

As part of this festive tradition, the cities of Myanmar are illuminated with lights and decorations, and the streets are filled with the sound of music and dance. People take part in parades, cultural programs, and religious ceremonies. Children dress up in traditional costumes and adults perform theatre shows and special rituals. In the end, this beautiful and spiritual holiday is celebrated with lots of love and joy, bringing together people of all religions, backgrounds, and ages.

An Insight into the Origins and Celebrations of Dussehra in Myanmar

Dussehra, also known as ‘Vijaya Dashami’ is one of the most popular Hindu festivals that is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm in Myanmar. This auspicious festival, which is celebrated in the month of Ashwin (September or October), marks the victory of good over evil and symbolises the triumph of truth and dharma. Celebrated with devotion, Dussehra continues to be one of the most important events of Myanmar, that spans across different communities and cultures.

History and Origin

The origins of Dussehra are traced back to a mythological story from the Ramayana, which narrates the struggle between Lord Rama and the ten-headed king Ravana. As per the story, Lord Rama, with the help of Lord Hanuman and an army of monkeys, was able to defeat Ravana and rescue his beloved wife Sita, who had been kidnapped by the demon king. To mark Lord Rama’s triumph over evil, people commemorate Dussehra by gathering around effigies of Ravana and his brothers Kumbhakarna and Meghnath and burning them in a bonfire. Known as ‘Ravana Vadha’ or ‘Ravana Dahan’, this ritual is celebrated with great pomp and flare all over Myanmar, especially in cities such as Rangoon and Mandalay.

In olden times, Dusherra was observed at Ayutthaya (Thailand) in accordance with a traditional Hindu festival known as the ‘Uposatha’. Here, the celebration was centred around the palace and the Uposatha Hall in Krawa Wiha. It is said that King Bayinnaung, who was the ruler of Myanmar at that time, introduced Dussehra to Myanmar. Through the centuries, the celebration of the festival has evolved into the culture, traditions and customs that are popularly observed in Myanmar today.

Significance and Meaning

For the people of Myanmar, Dussehra stands for the victory of goodness over evil and symbolizes the triumph of justice and righteousness in life. Just like in the Ramayana, it is believed that observing the festival of Dussehra will bring in good luck and fortune to the people. On this day, the people of Myanmar dress up in their finest traditional attire, observe ritualistic puja ceremonies, and revel in religious activities like chanting mantras in praise of the divine. It is also believed that worshipping Goddess Durga and Lord Vishnu brings in inner peace and strength to fight the forces of evil.

Traditions and Celebrations

The celebrations of Dussehra begin with the preparation for the grand event. Streets are decorated with colourful streamers, lights, and religious flags. Artisans from all over the country come together to craft and design beautiful effigies of Ravana. On the day of Dussehra, sacred rituals are performed in the Hindu temples to invoke the gods. The second half of the day is dedicated to the burning of effigies and the marking of the victory of good over evil.

Apart from the ritualistic celebrations, the people of Myanmar also enjoy several cultural customs like plays and dances. People also decorate their homes with traditional symbols like mango leaves and colourful flowers, such as marigolds, that signify prosperity. Traditional feasts and delicacies are made, such as ‘Bhaji’ and ‘Rasmalai’, as part of the celebrations.

Geographical Spread

Dussehra is largely celebrated all throughout Myanmar. In cities like Rangoon, the festival is celebrated in a grand manner with several cultural events and dramas. In the traditional parlance of Myanmar, the festival is called Ko Daung Maw pwe and featuring in musical performances, such as Bonse, is a common sight.

In the region of Mandalay, the Dussehra celebrations are known as Yemon Thadingyut. Here, the festivities are centred around Khin Myo Chit Hall, where musical dramas are performed. Cultural performances are mainly showcased in this region, which depict the life of Buddha. Small boats made of banana leaves, called ‘lei hman’, are also popularly used to decorate the streets.

Modern Day Observations

In more recent years, the celebration of Dussehra in Myanmar has experienced some changes and modern twists. While religious ceremonies still form a key part of the celebrations, modern-day observance of the festival has witnessed the incorporation of western influences, like shopping and fun activities for youth.

Malls are decked up with special lights and decorations, and cultural performance usually take place in public places. The festival has also become a great shopping opportunity for people to purchase new clothes, souvenirs and sweet treats. Several amusement parks and fairs are also set up, drawing in huge crowds of tourists and families who come to have fun and enjoy the festivities.

Interesting Facts or Trivia

• Dussehra in Myanmar is also known as Vilasnya Navmi, as it marks the climax of the month-long Sharad Navmi festivities.
• It is a tradition in Myanmar to start the day by worshipping Lord Rama and Sita, and presenting them with bouquets of flowers and coconuts.
• It is believed that the effigies of Ravana lit during the Dussehra festival carries away all the sins of the people.
• On the day of Dussehra, it is also customary for the elderly to gift the youth with money in the form of Alms, in order to bestow upon them luck and fortune.
• According to local legend, it is unsafe to travel during the festival of Dussehra, as it is believed that the gods are resting on the first day of the Navaratri.
• On the day of Dussehra, the people of Myanmar also observe the World Peace Ceremony as part of the festivities.
• In the state of Kachin, a traditional fifteen-day festival called ‘Manaw’ is also celebrated in the run-up to Dussehra.
• In Magway, a traditional archery competition is held on the day of Dussehra, to honour the spirits of the ancient kings of Myanmar.

Holiday Wishes:

1. May this Dussehra bring you loads of joy and prosperity.
2. Wishing you endless peace and good luck this Dussehra.
3. Celebrating the victory of truth and justice this Dussehra.
4. May you be blessed with success and joy on this auspicious day.
5. Wishing you a happy and blessed Dussehra!

Holiday Messages:

1. Let’s take this day to rejoice in the victory of good over evil.
2. May the spirit of Dussehra bring joy and peace to your life.
3. Let’s commemorate Dussehra by spreading love and celebrating truth.
4. May the divine power of Dussehra bring peace and harmony in your life.
5. Wishing you a day filled with success and joy this Dussehra.

Holiday Quotes:

1. “Wishing that this Dussehra bring you good luck and success.” – Unknown
2. “Victory of truth and righteousness should be celebrated.” – Unknown
3. “A time for celebration, A time for victory of good over bad, A time when world see the example of power of good. Let us continue the same “true” spirit.” – Unknown
4. “Celebrate the victory of the forces of good over Evil. Let’s celebrate an auspicious day to begin new things in life.” – Unknown
5. “Honor those who championed truth, justice, peace, courage, and faith.” – Unknown

Other Popular Holiday Info

Apart from the traditional Dussehra celebrations, the people of Myanmar also take part in several other religious activities associated with the festival. Dussehra holds special importance for the people of Myanmar because it coincides with the end of their traditional ‘lon tien’ period, which is a long-established period of farm-working. On the day of Dussehra, people gather for a special mass-festival known as the ‘Lon Tien Gyi’, where farmers, kids, adults, and elders come together to celebrate and rejoice.

The city of Mandalay is also renowned for its traditional puppet play called the Yoke Thé. This is a unique form of puppetry, which depicts stories from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, and is a popular attraction during Dussehra. Moreover, the Golden Palace Monastery also a major sight-seeing destination during Dussehra, where visitors can view the impressive architecture and art depicting the legends of Buddha.

All in all, Dussehra is an important festival in the cultural calendar of Myanmar and is celebrated in all its glory across the nation. Although the celebration has taken on a modern twist over the years, the traditional values and beliefs associated with the festival remain strong and alive.