The Hindu Art of Celebration: Kulasai Dussehra

Hinduism, or Sanatan Dharma, can be described as a way of life. Hinduism is a civilisation that has adhered to a specific lifestyle for ages. This lifestyle entails ideology, belief, discipline, commitment, knowledge and service. The joyful aspect of the civilisation, in the form of celebration, is inextricably linked to it. The Hindu civilisation honours nearly every facet of human life with most celebrations taking the shape of a festival. Festivals span all year, from January to December, providing reasons for Hindus to celebrate nearly every month.Most of these celebratory rituals represent the triumph of good over evil. The majesty of the event cannot be defined in words since it is a personified expression of devotion. One of these little-known festivities is the cult rural festival of Kulasai Dussehra, which took place from the 10 to 13 October this year, in the little seaside town of Kulasekarapattinam, in Tamil Nadu, at the 300-year-old Arulmigu Kulasai Mutharamman Devi Temple, where it has been held for centuries. This ceremony, which draws people from all around Tamil Nadu, is an immersive experience that transports every viewer into a vortex of devotion.The story revolves around a little girl named Lalithambigai who appears to fight the demon Mahishasura and, thanks to divine powers, grows into a full-grown adult in just nine days (Navratri) and kills the asura on the tenth day (Dussehra). Although the same festival is celebrated throughout the country, this rural festival has a long-lasting impact on the lives of those who attend.For starters, reenacting the war between the goddess and the asura is an exciting way to demonstrate the triumph of good over evil. This enactment is comparable to the Surasamharam, which takes place on the shores of Tiruchendur. Surasamharam commemorates Lord Muruga's victory against Narakasura, with the fight reenacted on the sixth day of Shashti during the Hindu month of Karthika..Lakhs of people flock on the shores of Kulasekarapattinam in Thoothukudi to witness the goddess's killing of the asura. A notable part of the enactment is the way the asura idol dances all over the place before meeting his demise, symbolising the growth of the ego and the consequences it would face. On the other hand, the goddess, as consciousness, remains still while the ego dances around, eventually destroying it. Legend goes that the temple was built by a local king Maravarman Kulasekaran, after the Devi appeared in the dream instructing him to build the temple and celebrate the festival in Her honour. Some believe that this way of celebrating the festival was started by the Pandya dynasty while others believe that the festival goes back several centuries. Second, Kulasai Dussehra is a celebration of femininity in its shakti form, and the audience may feel this vibration since the energy of the venue is rajasic. This shakti is brought to life not only by the idol, but also by followers who dress up like the goddess and immerse themselves in Her power. The dramatic visuals of devotees adorning themselves as their goddess will put any cosplay event in the world to shame! It embodies dedication in its finest form..The sensation that develops from within simply by glancing at the photographs of the devotees' transformation is beyond description. However, this is more than just street cosplay; it is a commitment. Devotees who dress up must observe a vrat for 91, 41, 31 or 21 days. They must take the kumbha and seek alms and wear costumes in only what they have received. Any extra funds must be deposited in the temple hundi. This practice is typically performed with a prayer in mind. Kulasai Dussehra, like many other Indian celebrations, would draw one’s attention away from the god and towards the devotees. It lets one realise that devotion is true joy, and the divinity that radiates through the devotee who is deeply committed to the goddess extends beyond even the Goddess Herself. It is a scenario where the devotee embodies everything that is symbolised by the God that he worships. This is an art of celebrating the energy and the quality that the god or goddess symbolises. By becoming the goddess and by mimicking her qualities, that persona of an individual is lifted to the highest possible level of consciousness.

The Hindu Art of Celebration: Kulasai Dussehra

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