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दशहरा · रावण दहन
Vijaya Dashami (September–October)
"रामलीला गाछी में रावण जरल"
Katha · The story
On this day Ram, after nine days of worshipping the Devi for strength, killed Ravan at Lanka and freed Sita. The Ramlila, the folk play of Ram's life, has been staged at Ramlila Gachhi in Malinagar for as long as anyone remembers; the same ground the buses leave from for Samastipur becomes a stage for ten nights, with village men playing Ram, Sita, Hanuman and a Ravan with ten papier-mâché heads.
On Dashami evening the Ravan effigy, built by the boys over a week, is set alight with fireworks inside, and the whole village walks home in the smoke. It is also the day Durga's bhasan happens, so the Devi and Ram are seen off together.
Mahatva · Significance
Vijaya Dashami is the victory of dharma, of Ram over Ravan and of Durga over Mahishasur, on the same day. For the village it is the end of the Navratra and the start of the twenty days of waiting for Diwali, and a day on which new work, learning and journeys begin well.
"बोलो सियावर रामचंद्र की जय"
A line everyone at the festival knows
Vidhi · How it is done in Malinagar
Jalebi and the mela's chaat, and the Ramlila's late-night chai.
The Ramlila troupe of Malinagar is entirely local; the man who plays Ravan has been playing him for over twenty years and is proud of it.