Every festival we celebrate carries a deeper meaning that goes beyond its external rituals and customary observances. While we celebrate these occasions with great fervour and devotion, it is equally important to understand their inner significance. Festivals are objective representations of a subjective phenomenon, reminding us that the real transformation must take place within us.
Dassehra, in particular, is not merely a celebration of the victory of good over evil in the external world. It symbolises the victory of our higher nature over our lower tendencies and invites us to undertake an inward journey towards spiritual evolution.
The ten days of Navaratri leading to Vijayadashami offer a profound lesson in this process of transformation.
During the first three days, Goddess Durga is worshipped. She represents the divine power that destroys negativity and removes the obstacles to spiritual growth. This phase symbolises the need to eliminate undesirable qualities such as anger, greed, jealousy, selfishness and arrogance. In spiritual terms, it involves overcoming the dominance of rajas and tamas — the qualities associated with excessive desire, restlessness, inertia and ignorance. Unless these negative tendencies are addressed, genuine inner transformation cannot begin.
The next three days are devoted to Goddess Lakshmi, who represents prosperity, abundance and auspiciousness. At the subjective level, this phase signifies the cultivation of positive qualities such as charity, compassion, forgiveness, contentment and objectivity. As negative tendencies diminish, these noble qualities begin to flourish, allowing sattva — purity, harmony and clarity — to emerge in our thoughts and actions.
The final three days are dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the embodiment of knowledge and wisdom. This stage reminds us that spiritual knowledge becomes truly meaningful only when the mind is sufficiently sattvic. The ability to comprehend higher truths and appreciate the goal of Self-realisation depends, to a great extent, on the purity and refinement of our inner being. Knowledge must therefore go beyond intellectual understanding and lead to wisdom in daily life.
The tenth day, Vijayadashami, marks the culmination of this journey. It signifies victory over ignorance, particularly the ego that prevents us from recognising our true Self. When knowledge matures into wisdom, the darkness of ignorance gives way to enlightenment. Thus, the triumph celebrated on Dassehra is ultimately an inner victory.
Every festival serves as a reminder of this higher purpose. External celebrations have their place, but they must inspire us to imbibe the values they represent.
In any religion, three non-essentials of spiritual practice can become obstacles when followed without understanding:
- Mechanical ritual.
- Superstitious belief.
- Blind faith.
The purpose of spirituality is not to remain confined to outward observances, but to discover their deeper significance and practise their essential teachings.
The true celebration of Dassehra lies not merely in witnessing the destruction of evil, but in overcoming the evil within ourselves.
