Festivity reached its climax on the last day of Navratra, marking the festival of Dussehra on Sunday as thousands of people thronged various puja pandals to celebrate Ravana Dahan.
Giant effigies of the 10-headed Rakshasa king of lanka, Ravana, his son Meghnad and brother Kumbhakarna, went up in flames marking the triumph of good over evil. Crowd burst into cheer as the firecracker packed effigies, dotting grounds and open spaces, crackled in a fiery splendour at sundown. With police keeping a hawk-eye vigil, the festivities passed off peacefully in the national Capital. Dressed in their festive best, people attended Ramlilas across the city where artistes enacted the final battle scene of Ramayana where Rama slays Ravana and escorts Sita to Ayodhya.
Amidst tight security, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, her daughter Priyanka Gandhi and several senior dignitaries reached Ramlila Maidan in the Capital around 6.20 pm. The devotees watched as the effigy of Ravana was set alight. Spectators extolled Rama for his victory over the demon king. Dussehra, which also marks the end of scorching summer and heralds the onset of winter, is preceded by nine auspicious days of Navratri during which devotees pray, fast and feast.
Ramlilas, vivid enactments from the life of lord Rama, were staged in all parts of the country during the nine days preceding the festival. Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and leaders present at the ground congratulated people for their active participation on the day of Vijayadashami at Ramlila Ground, which has a long history of celebrating Dussehra.
The PM and UPA Chairperson took aim with bow and arrow as a symbol of victory of god over the demon and were lauded by the gathering as well. In other parts of the Capital, President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and a large number of dignitaries watched evil go up in smoke. A number of playground fairs were also held on the occasion of Dussehra, which also epitomises the triumph of the warrior goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahisasura in various parts of the region.