Today, October 17th, is Dusshera which is when Sri Ram Chandar Ji destroyed the demon Ravan. The day is celebrated throughout India even at Sikh shrines such as Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, Paonta Sahib, Chamkaur Sahib along with Gurdrawas associated with Nihung Singh's, Udasi's, and Nirmala's. Prior to Dusshera there is a nine day celebration called Naurate which various forms of Shakti [Primordial Energy] are worshiped. According to the Ramayana, Ram Chandar worshiped the various forms of Shakti for nine days before destroying Ravan. For more information on Naurate in the Sikh context please visit: http://www.manglacharan.com/2009/10/worshiping-weapons-passage-from-suraj.html
For more information on Dusshera please visit: http://www.manglacharan.com/2010/05/dussherra-importance-in-sikhism.html
To listen to katha of the importance of Dusshera by Giani Baba Inderjit Singh Ji, student of Baba Gurbachan Singh Bhindranvale, press the play button below.
Below is a passage from Gurbilas Patshahi 10, a historical book written in 1751 CE by Kuer Singh mainly dealing with the life of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. This is one of the most earliest and detailed writtings dealing with the life of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
"ਆਜ ਨੁਰਾਤਾ ਆਦਿ ਨਿਹਾਰੋ । ਪੂਜ ਕਰੋ ਸਬ ਸਸਤ੍ਰ ਨਿਕਾਰੋ " ॥੧੩॥
[Guru Gobind Singh Ji stated] "Observe the first day of Nurate, worship and take out all of your weapons."
ਸੁਨ ਕਰ ਬਚਨ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਧਾਯੋ । ਪੂਜਨ ਕੀ ਸਭ ਸੌਜ ਲਿਆਯੋ ।
Listening to the words [of the Guru] the Khalsa ran to bring back weapons and do worship of them.
ਪਹਿਰ ਰਾਤ ਲੇ ਤੇ ਸਭ ਜਾਗੇ । ਪੂਜ ਕਾਲਿਕਾ ਕੀ ਮਧ ਲਾਗੇ ॥੧੪॥
In the last period of the night they [the Khalsa]awoke, and started to worship Kalika.
ਸਭ ਜਨ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਕੇਸ ਗੜ੍ਹ ਆਵੈ । ਧੂਪ ਦੀਪ ਨੈਬੇਦ ਕਰਾਵੈ ।
All the [Guru's] servants came to [Takht] Kesgarh Sahib, and lit incense, lamps and offered food
[towards Kalika].
ਪਾਛੈ ਅੱਛੁਤ ਪੁਸਪ ਮੰਗਾਵੈ । ਕਰ ਚਰਨਾਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਚਮਰ ਝੁਲਾਵੈ ॥੧੫॥
After they would offer rice and flowers toward Kalika, taking the Amrit from the Feet of the Guru and waving the wisk [over the weapons].
ਦੇਵਿ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਮੁਖ ਗਾਵੈ । ਉਸਤਤਿ ਕਰੈ ਮੋਦ ਮਨ ਭਾਵੈ ।
The stories of the Devi were recited from the Guru's mouth, reading the praises [of the Devi] everyone's mind was left in bliss.
ਨਵਿਨ ਨੁਰਾਤਨ ਪੂਜਨ ਧਾਰੀ । ਪੁਨਹਿ ਦਸਹਿਰਾ ਆਯੋ ਭਾਰੀ ॥੧੬॥
On the ninth day of Naurate the worship continued, then came the [tenth day] Dusshera.
...
ਸਭ ਸਿਲ ਖਾਨਾ ਛੋਰ ਮੰਗਾਯੋ । ਉੱਚ ਤਖਤ ਕੁਰਸੀਨ ਧਰਾਯੋ ।
All of the weapons were gathered and placed on high platforms.
ਗਿਰਦੇ ਚਮਰ ਧੂਪ ਨਰ ਕਰਹੀ । ਜੈ ਜਗ ਮਾਤ ਕਾਲਿ ਮੁਖ ਰਰਈ ॥੫॥੧੭॥
All around whisks were being waved and incense was being lit, "Jai Jag Maat" [Victory to the Mother of the World] was being recited from everyone's mouth.
ਅੜਿਲੁ ।
ਰਾਮਾਯਨ ਕਲ ਪਾਠ ਸਭਨ ਮੁਖ ਗਾਇਯੋ ।
[On Dusshera] the beautiful Ramayana text was recited from everyone's mouth.
ਅਜਾ ਸੂਨ ਜਮ ਬਾਹਨ ਭੇਟ ਚੜ੍ਹਾਇਯੋ ।
[During the celebrations] goat's and buffalo's were being sacrificed.
ਦੁੰਦਭਿ ਔਰ ਨੀਸਾਨ ਸੁ ਪੂਜ ਕਰਾਯ ਕੈ ।
The battle drums and battle standards were also being worshiped during this time.
Above: A painting of Sri Ram Chandar, his brother, Lakshman, and Hanuman battling against the evil demon King Ravan.
For more information on Dusshera please visit: http://www.manglacharan.com/2010/05/dussherra-importance-in-sikhism.html
To listen to katha of the importance of Dusshera by Giani Baba Inderjit Singh Ji, student of Baba Gurbachan Singh Bhindranvale, press the play button below.
Below is a passage from Gurbilas Patshahi 10, a historical book written in 1751 CE by Kuer Singh mainly dealing with the life of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. This is one of the most earliest and detailed writtings dealing with the life of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
"ਆਜ ਨੁਰਾਤਾ ਆਦਿ ਨਿਹਾਰੋ । ਪੂਜ ਕਰੋ ਸਬ ਸਸਤ੍ਰ ਨਿਕਾਰੋ " ॥੧੩॥
[Guru Gobind Singh Ji stated] "Observe the first day of Nurate, worship and take out all of your weapons."
ਸੁਨ ਕਰ ਬਚਨ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਧਾਯੋ । ਪੂਜਨ ਕੀ ਸਭ ਸੌਜ ਲਿਆਯੋ ।
Listening to the words [of the Guru] the Khalsa ran to bring back weapons and do worship of them.
ਪਹਿਰ ਰਾਤ ਲੇ ਤੇ ਸਭ ਜਾਗੇ । ਪੂਜ ਕਾਲਿਕਾ ਕੀ ਮਧ ਲਾਗੇ ॥੧੪॥
In the last period of the night they [the Khalsa]awoke, and started to worship Kalika.
ਸਭ ਜਨ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਕੇਸ ਗੜ੍ਹ ਆਵੈ । ਧੂਪ ਦੀਪ ਨੈਬੇਦ ਕਰਾਵੈ ।
All the [Guru's] servants came to [Takht] Kesgarh Sahib, and lit incense, lamps and offered food
[towards Kalika].
ਪਾਛੈ ਅੱਛੁਤ ਪੁਸਪ ਮੰਗਾਵੈ । ਕਰ ਚਰਨਾਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਚਮਰ ਝੁਲਾਵੈ ॥੧੫॥
After they would offer rice and flowers toward Kalika, taking the Amrit from the Feet of the Guru and waving the wisk [over the weapons].
ਦੇਵਿ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਮੁਖ ਗਾਵੈ । ਉਸਤਤਿ ਕਰੈ ਮੋਦ ਮਨ ਭਾਵੈ ।
The stories of the Devi were recited from the Guru's mouth, reading the praises [of the Devi] everyone's mind was left in bliss.
ਨਵਿਨ ਨੁਰਾਤਨ ਪੂਜਨ ਧਾਰੀ । ਪੁਨਹਿ ਦਸਹਿਰਾ ਆਯੋ ਭਾਰੀ ॥੧੬॥
On the ninth day of Naurate the worship continued, then came the [tenth day] Dusshera.
...
ਸਭ ਸਿਲ ਖਾਨਾ ਛੋਰ ਮੰਗਾਯੋ । ਉੱਚ ਤਖਤ ਕੁਰਸੀਨ ਧਰਾਯੋ ।
All of the weapons were gathered and placed on high platforms.
ਗਿਰਦੇ ਚਮਰ ਧੂਪ ਨਰ ਕਰਹੀ । ਜੈ ਜਗ ਮਾਤ ਕਾਲਿ ਮੁਖ ਰਰਈ ॥੫॥੧੭॥
All around whisks were being waved and incense was being lit, "Jai Jag Maat" [Victory to the Mother of the World] was being recited from everyone's mouth.
ਅੜਿਲੁ ।
ਰਾਮਾਯਨ ਕਲ ਪਾਠ ਸਭਨ ਮੁਖ ਗਾਇਯੋ ।
[On Dusshera] the beautiful Ramayana text was recited from everyone's mouth.
ਅਜਾ ਸੂਨ ਜਮ ਬਾਹਨ ਭੇਟ ਚੜ੍ਹਾਇਯੋ ।
[During the celebrations] goat's and buffalo's were being sacrificed.
ਦੁੰਦਭਿ ਔਰ ਨੀਸਾਨ ਸੁ ਪੂਜ ਕਰਾਯ ਕੈ ।
The battle drums and battle standards were also being worshiped during this time.
Above: A painting of Sri Ram Chandar, his brother, Lakshman, and Hanuman battling against the evil demon King Ravan.
