We are on the eve of our third Hindu festival complete with more drumming and parading of idols. This is Dasara [Dussehra] or Navaratri when the goddess Durga arrives astride her tiger to much fanfare and is venerated for nine nights. Each day is designated for each of the various "sisters" or manifestations of Durga which she transformed while fighting a demon-king who claimed no man could kill him. Well the goddess did the deed ridding the land of the evil menace. This period is also a time to celebrate Lord Rama's defeat of the demon-king Ravana. At the end of the festival giant paper mache figures of Ravana are burned in effigy do the cheers of the crowd and dancers wield dandiya sticks.
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