Dussehra, also called Vijayadashmi (or Bijoya in Bengal), is the culmination of the nine-day Navaratri celebrations. Navratri means nine nights and so the tenth day Goddess Durga, who is worshipped throughout the nine days, is immersed in holy water after pooja. It is a festival that marks the killing of Ravana by Rama. It is seen as the victory of good over evil. Here are some Indian mythology books that you can read to your children this festival season.
Giant idols under wraps, ready to be unfurled,
Colourful pandaals receive finishing touches
To host the biggest outdoor festival in the world!
Celebrate the homecoming of a loving daughter,
Victory of the goddess and a demon’s defeat,
See how Ma Durga outshone even the mighty gods
How a woman achieved an impossible feat!
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Ravana Remedy
Ravana
Age 3yrs+
Age 6yrs+
Age – 4yrs+
Age 6yrs+
Age 6yrs+
Plus: Why we celebrate Durga Puja and Dussehra – the myths and legends of the festival
Plus: 20 fun things to do during Dussehra and Durga Puja
Plus: Your very own fill – in festival diary
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Dussehra
Dussehra is celebrated to reminisce Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana which symbolizes the victory of Good over Evil. On this day, Lord Rama killed the evil demon Ravana who had abducted His wife Sita. Hence, this day is also called Vijayadashmi. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal all over the country.
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Celebrate Durga Puja With Me
‘Celebrate Durga Puja with Me’ started as a thought while holidaying in Australia. Shoumi and her family attended Durga Puja celebrations in Brisbane with an old friend she grew up with in Bombay. “Bombay comes alive with festivities for five days every year during Pujo,” they reminisced, as they attended a condensed ‘weekend Pujo’, which is typical outside India. Memories of celebrations from her childhood form the essence of her collection – the frenzied ‘dhunuchi’ dance during Durga Puja, the rhythmic chants of the oarsmen during Onam or the expression on a friend’s face as you snuck up to smear ‘abeer’ during Holi! “I wanted to recreate these memories in verse for my daughter and kids all over who may not have the opportunity to experience festivals the way we did.”
Age 3yrs+
Age 3yrs+
You might also like these fun & developmental Montessori inspired activities based on this festival that I did with my toddler last year.
Lord Rama
Age 3yrs+
Age 3yrs+
Age 3yrs+
The story of Rama, the righteous prince,
Written ages ago by the poet Valmiki.
This is Ramayana – an ancient, epic poem,
As told by Amma to Klaka and Kiki.
Beloved prince of Ayodhya, next in line to be king;
Banished to the forest at his stepmother’s behest.
Waged a war with the demon Ravana to rescue his wife
Helped by an army of monkeys in his quest.
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Tulsidas (1574) tells the story of Ram, the prince of Ayodhya, in Awadhi, a dialect of Hindi spoken in Awadh in Uttar Pradesh. The work consists of about a thousand stanzas, each about 12 to 18 lines, set in elegant rhyme. Every village and town in the Hindi heartland has a troupe that gives a theatrical performance, called Ramlila, based on Tulsidas’ work. Ramlila is enacted as part of the Vijaya Dashami celebrations.
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Short Stories From Ramayan
Ramayan is filled with educative tales and fables. This book is an attempt to bring alive some of the timeless tales of this great epic with the help of lucid language and illustrations.
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Rama
Hope you liked this collection of Dussehra & Navratri themed books for kids.