Delhiites celebrated Dussehra on Tuesday with burning of effigies of Ravan, his son Meghnad and brother Kumbhakaran, marking the victory of good over evil, even as effigies symbolising terrorism and terrorists were also put to flames. Themes to defeat terrorism and recent surgical strikes by the Indian Army across line of Control dominated the celebrations.
The Shri Dharmic leela Committee's Ram lila event was attended by President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Union Minister Harsh Vardhan and former lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar among others.
This year Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not attend the event in Delhi as he participated in Dussehra celebrations in lucknow in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.
Conveying his wishes, the President said celebrations bind the communities and regions of India in a true sense of brotherhood and "should motivate us to make renewed efforts for the unity and progress of our country". Mukherjee said he too returned from Birbhum, West Bengal after celebrating Durga Puja there.
The dignitaries also performed 'aarti' before the artistes dressed as Ram and lakshman, a yearly ritual. As a mark of peace, they also released white pigeons in the air. Several posters saluting the Army's valour after the surgical strikes were seen at the event.
In the wake of Intelligence warning that terrorist outfits could target the Dussehera celebrations in the national Capital, the Delhi Police with the Central Para-Military Forces managed a tight security umbrella all over the city especially in and around the venues at lal Quila grounds. Security personnel keeping a hawk-eye vigil, the festivities passed off peacefully across the city. Hundreds of onlookers who had gathered at Subhas Maidan, Parade Ground and lal Quila Grounds cheered after the lord Ram fired the arrow to kill Ravan and thus marking an end to the festivities. As the towering effigies burst into flames, fire crackers stacked in the effigies created a deafening sound.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal attended the luv-Kush Ramlila celebrations at Red Fort. "Arvind Kejriwal at love-Kush Ramlila at Red Fort," Aam Aadmi Party's (APP's) official Twitter handle tweeted along with several pictures of Kejriwal taking part in the celebrations. Kejriwal was felicitated with a symbolic mace by the organisers of the Ramlila.
"If we can work together, we can definitely achieve our goals," said Kejriwal, adding that "we will face the evils in society ogether".
Scores of people had gathered at the Red Fort to witness the 'Ravan Dahan'. The burning of Ravana's effigies marks the end of Navratra and the beginning of 20-day-long wait for Diwali, festival of lights, to celebrate the return of lord Ram to Ayodhya after killing the demon king.
Dressed in their festive best, people attended Ramlilas across the city where artistes enacted the final battle episode of Ramayana where lord Ram kills Ravana and brings back his wife Sita to Ayodhya on 'Vijaydashmi'.
According to mythology, lord Rama killed demon king Ravana of lanka on this day. People burn effigies of Ravana across the country on the day.