DUSSEHRA

This festival is held in Slough, Berkshire, where the RWS volunteers assemble the thirty-foot effigy. The festival celebrates the victory of Lord Ram over the evil king Ravana.

The festival last for ten days. The first nine days are known as Navratri (In Northern India it is celebrated with Garbha dancing). The tenth day is known as Vijaydasmi (Day of Victory) when Lord Ram kills the evil Ravana in the battle of Lanka. On this day great effigies of Ravana are built and children enact the Ramayana playing the characters of Lord Luxman, Hanuman and Lord Ram and Sita. With the setting of the evening sun, an arrow is lit and fired into the great effigy followed by fireworks and a feast of vegetarian food.

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