Dashera, Lord Shri Ramchandras Vijayotsava Celebration, ISKCON of Washington D.C.

Celebrating victory of Shakti over mahishasura and also of Lord Ram over Ravan.

Cultural program, Maha Arati, Prasadam dinner feast.

Hare Krishna Temple, 10310 Oaklyn Dr. Potomac, MD.

In the months of Ashwin and kartik, Hindus observe a 10 day ceremony of fast, rituals, celebrations, fiests to honor the mother Goddess and triumph of Lord Rama over Demon Ravana. Dussehra also symbolizes the triumph of warrior Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. Thus, it is a celebration of victory of good over evil.

This celebration starts from Navratri and ends with the tenth day festival of \\\"Dussehra\\\". Navratri and Dussehra is celebrated throughout the country at the same time, with varying rituals, but with great enthusiasm and energy as it marks the end of scorching summer and the start of winter season.

The tenth day after Navratri is called Dussehra, on which number of fairs are organized throughout the northern India, burning effigies of Ravana.

It is also called \\\"Vijayadashmi\\\" as this day marks the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. VijayaDashami is considered to be an auspicious day for the Indian householder, on which he worships, protects and preserves \\\"Shakti\\\" (power). According to Scriptures, by worshipping the \\\"Shakti\\\" on these nine-days the householders attain the threefold power i.e. physical, mental and spiritual, which helps him to progress in life without any difficulty.


The \\\"Ramlila\\\" - an enactment of the life of Lord Rama, is held during the nine days preceding Dussehra. On the tenth day (Dussehra or Vijay Dasami), larger than life effigies of Ravana, his son and brother - Meghnadh and Kumbhakarna are set to fire.

The theatrical enactment of this dramatic encounter is held throughout the country in which every section of people participates enthusiastically.

In burning the effigies the people are asked to burn the evil within them, and thus follow the path of truth and goodness, bearing in mind the instance of Ravana, who despite all his might and majesty was destroyed for his evil ways.

Program includes kirtans/bhajans, prasadam feast, magic show, classical dances, *Ramlila* drama, burning of effigy of Ravan and more.

Kirtan group Mayapuris, from Florida are here to lead some very ecstatic kirtans and Ram bhajans.

The Mayapuris are an eclectic group of talented musicians who share their love of the sacred culture of kirtan through their music. Blending Vedic Mantras with a contemporary twist, the Mayapuris kirtan stirs the soul like never before, and implores the audience to participate by singing and dancing along to their spellbinding rhythm.

With an entertaining and colorful presentation of live music featuring Classical Indian dances fused with modern dance techniques, as well as an upbeat Mrdunga drum presentation, the audiences become mesmerized.

The Mayapuris life and love is kirtan. When they are not traveling and performing, they can be found spreading their amazing spiritual sound vibrations of kirtan amongst their friends in Alachua, Florida.

>City(s) = Potomac; State(s) = MD; Country = USA.
>Title = Dasara and Ramlila - Sri Ramchandra Vijayotsava Celebration - ISKCON, Potomac,MD, US - Video.
>Keywords = Dashera, Lord, Shri, Ramchandra, Vijayotsava, Celebration, ISKCON, Washington, DC, Celebrating, victory, Shakti, mahishasura, Ram, over, Ravan, Cultural, program, Maha, Arati, Prasadam, dinner, feast, Hare, Krishna, Temple, Oaklyn, Dr, Potomac, MD, Navratri, Dussehra, India, Vijayadashmi, Ramlila, burning, evil, kirtans, bhajans, magic, show, classical, dances, Mayapuris, Florida, Alachua, ourtripvideos, our, trip, videos, crlapindfrn (109)
>Catg =