Press Release
The High Commission of India and Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC) in Georgetown celebrated Dussehra by organizing an event at SVCC lawns on 15 October 2021. The event started with lighting of ceremonial lamp by High Commissioner of India, H.E. Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, Chief Guest Hon. Mohabir Anil Nandlall, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs and Hon. Dr. Vindhya V. Persaud, Minister of Human Services and Social Security. The guests were welcomed in the traditional style by the Tassa group band and the event included cultural performances including Lakshmi Vandana, Devi stuthi by the Kathak Teacher of SVCC, dance and music performances by the Tabla Teacher of SVCC, students of SVCC and the family members of the High Commission.
The name Dussehra comes from the Sanskrit language “Dash” and “Hara”.It is said that it was on this day that goddess Durga defeated Mahishasura after a fierce battle lasting for more than nine days. In many parts of the country, it is celebrated to mark the victory of Lord Rama over ten-headed demon king of Lanka, Ravana.Dussehra is celebrated in India in different States in different manner. In Karnataka, the people worship Goddess Chamundeshwari and a grand traditional Dasara Procession is held in Mysore.Vijayadashami is celebrated in Kerala also as Vidyarambham(Vidya means "knowledge", arambham means "beginning”), and on Vijayadashami day introduces young children into the world of knowledge, letters, and the process of learning.In Tamil Nadu, this festival is called Golu.This day, Bengalis celebrate Bijoya Dashami which marks the 10th day of Durga Puja. In other parts of India, Dussehra is celebrated with much fanfare and Ram Lila, an enactment of Lord Rama's story, is organized on all nine days of Navratri culminating with the killing of Ravana and burning of his life-size effigy on the day of Dussehra or Vijayadashami along with those of Meghnad and Kumbhakaran which signifies the end of evil. Dusshehra also signifies getting rid of sins or bad qualities as each head of the Ravana symbolizes one bad quality.Dussehra is a festival celebrated with great fervour, not just in India, but also in Nepal, and Bangladesh. It is the national holiday of Malaysia.This festival is also important to the farmers as it marks the harvest of Kharif crops and sowing of rabi crops. While Dussehra signals the end of nine-day long festival of Navratri, it also means beginning preparations for Diwali, which is celebrated 20 days after Vijayadashami, the day when Lord Rama reached Ayodhya with Sita.
During the event, an MoU on the establishment of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Chair of Indian Studies in University of Guyana (UoG) between ICCR and the UG was signed. High Commissioner Dr. K J Srinivasa signed the MoU on behalf of ICCR and Dr. Paloma Mohamed, Vice Chancellor, signed it on behalf of UG.
The event which was attended by Indian nationals, Indian Diaspora members, friends and well wishes of India, was widely covered by local audio and visual media.
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16 October 2021
