Kota Dasshera mela is the one of the most popular festival in Kota, Rajasthan. This will celebrate in month of Oct-Nov. This is also known as Hadoti Mela, which runs about 27 days and hosts various cultural programs along with various competitions like, Hasya Kavi Sammelan, folk dance, Chambal Kusti Dangal (Riesling Championship), Ramp walk, Ghazals, shero-shayari, possession etc. There's nothing like an event or a festival to soak up the spirit of a place.
The Dussehra Festival of Kota is magnificient and unique cultural religious experience for both, the local residents and tourists. The fair held on the celebration grounds, offer great business opportunities for traders and local craftsmen to sell and exhibit their products.
The history behiend Kota Dussehra Mela goes back to 1893AD. The credit of making this religious event more popular and attractive goes to Maharao Ummed Singh II (1889-1940 A.D.).
The Dussehra festival in Kota is still pure and authentic. Dussehra is a Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of the good over the bad.
Dussehra is celebrated in Kota in Sep-Oct. This festival is celebrated all over the country but the Kota Dussehra is quite unique for it marks more than just the beginning of a festive period. More than 75 feet tall effigies of the demons Ravana, Kumbhakarana and Meghnad are burnt on Dussehra day to symbolise the victory of good over evil. Usually these effigies are filled with crackers. A young child dressed as Lord Ram is made to shoot an arrow of fire at Ravana and the huge figure is burnt.
Villagers gather here dressed in multicolored clothes to offer prayers to Lord Rama and to celebrate his victory over Ravana. Prominent artists from all over the country are invited to participate in cultural programmes that enthrall the huge audience with their performances. Rich in courtly splendor and age old traditions, the Dussehra festival here is marked by a glittering procession which attracts thousands from the surrounding villages. Dramas, depicting the Armageddon, are very common. Like all festivals in Rajasthan, it provides a good opportunity to the traders to display their attractive wares to the rural and urban buyers. Small effigies of Lord Ram, Sita and Lakhsman are very common works of sculpture.
The effigy of Ravana is even bigger than his by now carbonized accomplices. He is the last one that is set on fire. The huge crowd is shouting with joy when Ravana catches fire. A warm piece of carton flutters against Ivonneβs face. This is the time that we think it is wise to take more distance. The sea of flames is huge, and more people decide to find a safer place, Ravana is burning and gives with some firecracker bangs his last convulsions. After Ravana felt into ashes some last fireworks was shot in the air, marking the end of the festival. We really enjoyed the festival and are very happy that we planned our journey in a way that we could be present on this great event. This festival is really recommended!
