yesterday we came across the Indian area here in Bangkok and saw a beehive of activity. We decided to return in the evening thinking it might be cooler, cooler-ha who were we kidding! We still went, can’t let searing heat and humidity stop us. We kept asking people ‘what is the festival? What holiday is it?'“Yes, smile, it is a Hindu festival, only one night a year, tonight.” This was all we got in response. Okay, we don’t know which Hindu festival it is but we enjoyed the festivities anyway. It was a mini melee Hindu block party.
Everyone was setting up elaborate alters/shrines with lots of flowers, mostly marigolds and whatever else they had on hand including fluorescent lights and very loud speaker systems. Some even had their own small bands. One after another lined the street with incense and burning coconuts everywhere. I’m sure it isn’t hard to imagine the heat, the flames the crowds and the noise not to mention the devotees sometimes kneeling and praying or wildly dancing and crawling on the ground in trances. There were times when the crowd was so thick and squeezed that we really got how dangerous this could be in any given moment. Now we understand, fall or faint from the heat and add a stampede and you are dead just like that.We figured this was a small indicator of what will be much bigger in India if we venture into the 
thick of any Hindu Festival. So I think we will steer clear of the Hindu festival in Pushkar at midnight on the full moon next month when it is the height of the festival. Now I know why you gasped Aruna when we said we were going to the Pushkar Melee. As we were leaving we saw fire trucks lined up at the end of the street, good idea! It was fun but we decided it was okay to leave before the main event of the parade happened, I’m not sure how it would even make it down the street there was no room it was solid people.
Answer...This particular day is known as Dashhara (dash means
ten/hara means defeated). Ravana was defeated by lord Rama on this day. Lord Rama finally won the battle over Ravana who was the king of Shri lanka and was very powerful. He made his island so rich that Shri Lanka was known as "Sone ki Lanka" which means "Galoden Lanka". Originally Ravana was a devotee of lord Shiva. He had achieved many super power qualities (ten heads are the symbols of his super power achievement) during the time that he was worshiping Shiva. Later on he started misusing his power. Finally Lord Rama had battle with him. From the day of Dashhara all the following days till Diwali ( festival of lights in honour of Lord Rama's victory) are festivity days.
thick of any Hindu Festival. So I think we will steer clear of the Hindu festival in Pushkar at midnight on the full moon next month when it is the height of the festival. Now I know why you gasped Aruna when we said we were going to the Pushkar Melee. As we were leaving we saw fire trucks lined up at the end of the street, good idea! It was fun but we decided it was okay to leave before the main event of the parade happened, I’m not sure how it would even make it down the street there was no room it was solid people.Answer...This particular day is known as Dashhara (dash means
ten/hara means defeated). Ravana was defeated by lord Rama on this day. Lord Rama finally won the battle over Ravana who was the king of Shri lanka and was very powerful. He made his island so rich that Shri Lanka was known as "Sone ki Lanka" which means "Galoden Lanka". Originally Ravana was a devotee of lord Shiva. He had achieved many super power qualities (ten heads are the symbols of his super power achievement) during the time that he was worshiping Shiva. Later on he started misusing his power. Finally Lord Rama had battle with him. From the day of Dashhara all the following days till Diwali ( festival of lights in honour of Lord Rama's victory) are festivity days. 
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