The festival of Dussehra was celebrated with great enthusiasm in the capital, Delhi, on Thursday. At the celebration organised by the Shri Dharmik Leela Samiti at the Red Fort ground, even the challenge posed by the weather could not diminish the faith and excitement.
Heavy rain fell before the Ravan Dahan (the burning of Ravana's effigy), disrupting the arrangements. The effigies were also soaked in the rain, but despite this, the giant effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnath stood tall.
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Conveying the message of good over evil, the chief guests set fire to the effigies, which then went up in flames. Before the Ravan Dahan, President Droupadi Murmu applied a tilak to Lord Shri Ram.
On this occasion, former Union Minister Smriti Irani and officials of the Ramlila committee were also present on the stage with the President. The entire ground echoed with slogans of 'Jai Shri Ram'. Thousands of spectators came to watch the Ravan Dahan and enjoyed the fireworks display.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to attend the Ramlila at IP Extension, but his visit was cancelled at the last moment. Shahdara MLA Sanjay Goyal and officials from the Shri Ramlila Committee Inderprastha, informed the audience of the cancellation. Despite this, devotees continued to celebrate with enthusiasm and devotion.
Across Delhi, Ramlila committees conducted Ravan Dahan events, spreading the timeless message of the victory of good over evil, as people marked the festival with joy and excitement.