Children love celebrating Dussehra and everything to do with it. The days of Navaratri are fun-filled and fancy for them, and they love celebrating each part of it. In this post, we have curated a list of some entertaining Dussehra activities for kids. This holiday season, bring in some festive vibes with the help of the activities suggested by us. So use this time to teach them a bunch of fun crafts that identify with the festival and encourage them to learn more about the reason it’s being celebrated. Rather than making it just another holiday, give them the opportunity to learn the essence behind it and create some activities along the same lines. Use the opportunity to bond with your children and craft some beautiful memories together. Read on to learn more about it.
Navratri For Kids – Popular Myths
Navratri is an Indian festival celebrated by those who follow the Hindu tradition, even though anyone can enjoy the festivities and celebrations. Durga Puja and Navratri festival is celebrated by worshiping Goddess Durga and her nine different avatars, hence the name Navratri, ‘nav’ meaning nine and ‘ratri’ meaning night.
Chandra Darshan, Kumari/Brahmacharini Puja, Sindoor Tritiya, Sandhi Puja, Chandi Path, Lalitha Vrat, Kalaratri Puja, Mahagauri Puja, Ayudha Puja and Navami Homa are rituals and events which are observed during nine days Navratri.
For all the nine days that the festival is celebrated, one form of goddess Durga is worshipped each day, and a color is chosen for each day. Those who religiously follow the festival dress in the color of the day. There are different historical legends in different parts of India, so here is a look:
1. According To The Mythology Of Eastern India:
Uma was the daughter of Daksha, who was the king of the Himalaya. She was known for her beauty and was a virtuous girl. Ever since she was a child, Uma wanted to marry Shiva and had been trying to worship him to please him and make him agree. When Shiva came to tell Daksha that he would marry Uma, her father was quite upset and did not want his daughter to marry him. He told his daughter and son-in-law that he would not think of them as a family anymore.
One day Daksha was performing a special yagna but did not invite Uma and Shiva, which angered Uma. She jumped into the fire and came to be known as ‘Sati.’ However, she was reborn again and married Shiva, after which her father accepted them both. Ever since then, she comes home every year to her parents during Navratri.
2. According To The Mythology Of North India:
The demon Mahisasura worshipped Shiva and became immortal. He started killing people and wanted to rule over all the gods, as he thought no one would be able to kill him anymore. The gods asked Shiva for help and to save the world from Mahasisura’s evil behavior. Shiva united with Vishnu and Brahma to create a female warrior goddess known as Durga. When Mahisasura saw Durga, he fell in love with her beauty and asked to marry her. She agreed on the condition that he would have to defeat her in a battle. Mahasisura was sure he would win, so the battle continued for nine nights and on the last night, she beheaded him. The nine nights are celebrated as part of the Navratri festival.
3. The Mythology Behind Dussehra:
Dussehra is another very popular festival celebrated in India, which is celebrated on the tenth day of the celebrations of Navratri commence
. While some parts of India celebrate it to mark goddess Durga’s victory over Mahisasura, other parts celebrate it as Ram’s win over Ravana.
4. The Mythology of Rama And Ravana:
Dussehra is mostly about the victory of good over evil. Ravana had abducted Rama’s wife Sita, after which Rama, with his brother Lakshman and follower Hanuman, waged war against Ravana to bring Seeta back. Rama worshipped goddess Durga to get her blessings and killed Ravana. The day is celebrated as Dussehra.
5. Kids Crossword Puzzle For Navratri And Dussehra:
Here is a fun crossword puzzle activity you can create for your kids to play that uses information from both the festivals. This is one of the best navratri activities for kids:
- Navratri finishes on this day
- Navratri is celebrated for how many days
- The festival that goes on for nine nights
- The demon whose death marks Navratri
- A demon whose death marks Dussehra
- The festival that comes right after Navratri
Navratri and Dussehra are popular Indian festivals. They are associated with deep-rooted culture and mythology. Introducing these stories and cultures to the children is essential as it helps them feel connected to their heritage. Knowing about these stories of Navaratri and participating in Dussehra celebrations can teach the children all about the victory of good over evil. The fun crossword puzzle can make the festive time more interesting.
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