A police constable performs "Shastra Pooja" on the occasion of Dasara at local police station in Mumbai on Monday,28 September 2009. Dussehra symbolizes the victory of good over evil in Hindu mythology. Dasara is also known as Navaratri, as in the first nine days the Divine Mother Goddess Durga is worshipped and invoked in different manifestations of her Shakti. The 10th day is in honor of Durga Devi. The basic purpose behind this festival is to worship feminine principle of the Universe in the form of the divine mother to remind the teachings of the Taitareeya Upanishad, "Matru Devo Bhava." Essence of the navaratri celebration at social level is to remind & respect all the women, who are the guardians of the family, culture, and national integrity, to take lead in times of crisis to guide the humanity towards t

Photographer: Sameer Joshi

Tags: DussehraDasaraDashaharaNavaratriDurgotsavLunar Month of AshwinShukla Paksha PratipadaBhadrapadaDashaHaraDasraDasheraNavratriNavaratriDusseraDasraNavratriNavaratriDusseraVijayadashmiFestivalHindu FestivalReligionIndian CalendarDasaraDussehraDasseraDasheraDuseraFestivalVijayadashmiGun PujaAshwapujaVyasa PujaPuja of GunsShastra PujaPhoto Stock