In brief
Across India, Dussehra brings vibrant processions, the dramatic retelling of the Ramayana and the worship of Durga to the foreground, yet for many indigenous peoples the festival echoes an ancient ecological wisdom that aligns community practice with the rhythms of nature. Effigies are built from local bark, leaves and clay, and their burning outdoors cleanses both the village square and the surrounding ecosystem. Durga‑puja tents rise from bamboo frames and thatch, showcasing sustainable building techniques that have survived centuries of monsoon floods. Children gather marigolds and other flowers, learning pollinator protection and biodiversity through horticulture exchanges. Thus, the narrative of good overcoming evil is inseparable from the stewardship of land, water and forest, reminding us that the festival’s true victory is the return of balance and renewal.
Across India, the festivities of Dussehra unite people in a dramatic narrative of victory, but for many indigenous communities they also echo deep ecological knowledge that has guided their stewardship of forests, rivers and seasons for generations.
The festival, set on the tenth day after the nine‑night worship of Navratri, is marked by processions, the burning of giant effigies and theatrical retellings of the epic Ramayana, known as Ramlila. These acts are not merely religious; they embody the principle that when the natural world is respected, prosperity follows and darkness is dispelled.
Indigenous artisans craft effigies of Ravan and other figures using locally sourced bark, leaves and clay, a practice that reclaims the land’s materials and keeps the memory of ancestral crafts alive. The ritual burning is performed outdoors in village squares where the wind circulates smoke, symbolising the cleansing of the ecosystem and the renewal of soil and water.
In regions such as Bengal and Rajasthan, the celebrations shift from Ramayana to the worship of the divine feminine, Durga, who conquers the buffalo demon Mahishasura. The temporary tents, or pandals, are built from bamboo frames and thatch, showing an intimate knowledge of flood‑resistant structures and sustainable material use that indigenous builders have refined for millennia.
The flavour of the season is carried by marigolds and other flowers, hand‑picked by children who learn the language of the plants and the importance of pollinator protection. Gardens are exchanged among families to diversify crop offerings, reducing dependence on a single source and mimicking biodiversity in the wild.
While the world watches the dramatic lighting of oil lamps and the rise of community dances, the stories carried in Dussehra remind us that every festival is rooted in the cycles of nature, and that the triumph of good over evil is only possible when the earth is respected and nurtured.
