Kota Dussehra

Dussehra is celebrated all over India in the months of September-October, which corresponds to the month of Ashwin according to the Hindu calendar. In the year 2009, Dussehra will fall on 28th September. But, Kota Dussehra is quite different and unique, as, here it is not just a beginning of festive period, but much more than that.

Preparations:

Dussehra is a very auspicious and sacred day for Hindus as it symbolizes the victory of good over evil. It marks the victory of Lord Rama over demon Ravana and it also symbolizes the triumph of warrior Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura.

Days and months before Dussehra, craftsmen engage themselves in making huge effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakaran and son Meghnath. Over the years the height of these effigies has been rising. These days very tall effigies, upto 75 feet tall are made.

Celebrations:

On the day of Dussehra, a huge fair is organized in large gardens called “maidans”, where villagers gather in colorful clothes to worship Lord Rama and celebrate his victory. The effigies of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbhakaran are burnt. Normally loud crackers are put inside them that produce deafening noises when ignited.

It is a huge fair, where thousands of people gather from Kota and nearby places to witness this grand celebration of Dussehra. For children it’s an outing with fun, drama, toys, eatables and programs. While, these effigies are burnt, a small child is made to dress like Rama and he hits the effigy of Ravana with his bow.

This is not merely an enactment of an event in the past, but works as a live lesson for children and even adults that it is “good” that ultimately wins, however strong evil might be.

Special Attractions:

The Dussehra fair in Kota, is a huge celebration that not only includes the ceremonial burning of effigies, but, additionally a number of cultural programs and processions are organized. Eminent and popular artists from all over the country are invited to participate in the cultural programs.

The concept of Processions on Dussehra is age old in Kota and over the years it has developed as a major attraction for tourists coming from all over the world and people from India. This fair is a good opportunity for traders to sell and exhibit their products for buyers both rural and urban. As against other places where this fair lasts for a day, in Kota it is one of the biggest fairs lasting for about a fortnight.      

How to Get There 

•  By Air
  Kota is well connected by air. Jaipur, 245-km away is the other convenient airport.

• By Rail
  lying on the Delhi-Mumbai route, Kota is well served by regular super fast rail services. Some important train connections are: Golden Temple Express (Mumbai- Kota-Amritsar); Rajdhani Express (Mumbai-Kota-New Delhi): Dehradun Express (Mumbai-Kota-Dehradun); Paschim Express (New Delhi-Kota-Mumbai); Avadh Express (Mumbai-Kota-Gorakhpur); Swaraj Express (Mumbai-Kota-New Delhi). 
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• Local Transport
  Unmetered taxis; auto-rickshaws, tempos and cycle rickshaws are available for commutation purposes within the city.

• By Road
  Good network of road connections link Kota with many important cities inside and outside the state. Some notable distances are: Udaipur 270-km, Bundi 40-km, Delhi 504-km, Ahmedabad 522-km.