New Delhi, 24 Oct: Dussehra also known as Vijayadashmi was celebrated on Tuesday across the country with different rituals and activities, marking the triumph of good over evil.
Huge effigies of demon king Ravana, his son Meghnad and brother Kumbhakarna went up in flames at various grounds across the length and breadth of the country in celebrations attended by common people as well as political leaders.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and several other leaders attended events across Delhi to mark the festivities.
Prime Minister Modi attended an event in Dwarka in the national capital and called upon people to finish off forces trying to divide the country with casteism and regionalism, saying Dussehra should also mark the burning of ideologies which are not about India’s development but about fulfilling selfish interests.
Addressing a gathering at the event, he said the festival should not be confined to the burning of Ravana’s effigies and Lord Ram’s victory over the demon but also mark the triumph of patriotism over every evil in the country.
Modi shot an arrow using a ceremonial bow, kick-starting the ‘Lanka Dahan’ celebrations.
President Murmu attended celebrations hosted by the Shri Dharmik Leela Committee at the ground opposite the Red Fort here. She was later handed a ceremonial bow and arrow to shoot towards the effigies, following which they were set ablaze.
Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi attended an event hosted by the Nav Shri Dharmik Leela Committee. Amid chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’, Gandhi was gifted a copy of the Ramayana at the event.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also attended Dussehra festivities hosted by different Ramlila committees.
Kejriwal joined the celebrations at the Red Fort here and said his government is trying to serve the people of the national capital, taking inspiration from the ideals of Lord Ram.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh celebrated Dussehra with Army soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang, a strategically key region close to the frontier with China.
Dussehra signifies the victory of good over evil, Singh said after performing Shastra Puja’ (worship of weapons) at a military base. (PTI)
Dussehra also marked the end of the nine-day festivities of ‘Navratra’.
In West Bengal, goddess Durga idols were immersed on Vijayadashami at various river ghats across the state. (PTI)