Dussehra: Durga’s Victory and the Shakti Within

On this Dussehra, we remember not only the ancient stories of triumph but also the power of storytelling itself. In our recent Baithak for Liberation, Pandita Pratima Kushmani Shridevi Doobay shared a moving retelling of the myth of Mahishasura and Raktabija, reminding us that the lessons of Dussehra are as urgent today as they were thousands of years ago.

Pandita Pratima began with the story of the Asura brothers, Ramba and Karamba, who undertook deep tapasya after their brother Kalal was slain by Indra. From Ramba’s grief and the boon of Agni Deva came the births of Mahishasura and Raktabija. Mahishasura, granted near-invincibility by Brahma, terrorized the three worlds, while Raktabija’s blood gave rise to endless replicas of himself.

In their desperation, the gods turned inward—to their collective Shakti—and from that divine energy arose Durga. Riding her lion, radiant with weapons gifted by every god, she accepted the challenge to battle Mahishasura. For nine nights she fought, and with her Trishula, she ended his reign of terror. When faced with Raktabija, Durga manifested as Kali, catching each drop of his blood before it could multiply, consuming it in Agni, and restoring balance to the world.

As Pandita Pratima Kushmani Shridevi Doobay reminded us, this story is not only about victory—it is about Shakti, the divine feminine force that emerges whenever oppression seems unending. Dussehra reminds us that when violence multiplies like Raktabija’s blood, when injustice feels invincible like Mahishasura, we too must draw upon the Shakti within and among us.

At Hindus for Human Rights, we see Dussehra as a call to action. It is not only the celebration of Durga’s triumph but also an affirmation that courage, creativity, and compassion—especially when led by women and feminine energy—are the forces that can restore balance to our world.

This Dussehra, may we honor Durga, honor the storytellers like Pandita Pratima who keep these lessons alive, and honor the Shakti within each of us.

Jai Maa Durga. Jai Shakti.