Sri Durga Mandir in Melbourne is set to host a grand Dussehra festival on Sunday, October 29th, complete with traditional rituals, Ramleela performances, and the much-anticipated Ravan Dahan.
The temple management is expecting a turnout of nearly 18,000 people for the day-long festivities.
Kulwant Joshi, the President of the Sri Durga Mandir management committee, spoke to The Australia Today about the meticulous planning involved in this year’s celebrations.
“We are ready to welcome all devotees and make them immerse in traditional food, music, and different performances,”
said Mr Joshi.
Just to make it easier for devotees to attend the festivities a detailed parking plan has been released by the Temple management committee.
The Temple committee is requesting you to familiarise yourself with the route and parking area easily accessible to you for entry and exit.
Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar. Celebrated globally, it marks the victory of good over evil, epitomized by the Hindu God Sri Ram’s slaying of the demon King Ravan. The festival falls on the 10th day of the Hindu month of Kartik, concluding the nine-day Navratri festival.
To make the festival more engaging for younger attendees, the temple’s Ramleela performance has been specially crafted by volunteer artists.
“Our Ramleela is designed in such a way to educate the new generation of Hindu kids about their culture,”
added Mr. Joshi, underscoring the importance of imparting cultural education to the younger generation.
This year’s Dussehra festival will feature a host of activities to keep children and families entertained, including rides, games, and food stalls. For the grand finale, a giant cut-out effigy of Ravan will be set ablaze, symbolizing the destruction of evil, followed by an impressive fireworks display.
“As many as 18,000 people are expected to attend, and we have made extensive arrangements for car parking. However, we request everyone to follow the directions of traffic controllers for a convenient entry and exit,” Mr. Joshi noted, addressing the logistics of the large-scale event.
As Melbourne’s Indian-Australian community eagerly awaits the annual Dussehra celebrations at Sri Durga Mandir, the event promises to be more than just a religious occasion. It is a celebration of culture, a lesson in history, and above all, a collective aspiration for the triumph of good over evil.
For those interested, the festivities will begin with traditional rituals in the morning and conclude with Ravan Dahan and fireworks at 7:30 p.m. It’s a day of unity, tradition, and celebration that you won’t want to miss.
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