Delhi celebrates Vijay Dashami

Dressed in their traditional finery, residents of the national capital Friday celebrated Dussehra by praying at temples and burning the effigies of Ravana, Meghnada and Kumbhkarn symbolizing the victory of good over evil.

People thronged popular 'Ramlila' venues in the city especially those in old Delhi like the Lav-Kush and Shri Dharmik Lila Committees to witness the spectacular fireworks that lit up Delhi's skyline.

As part of tradition, Ramlila is enacted over nine days to depict the life of Lord Ram. The festivities culminate on the tenth day called Vijay Dashami or Dussehra.

The final episode of the Ramlila, which takes place before the effigies are burnt, depicts the battle between Lord Rama, and Ravana. At most of the venues, the battle is a visual treat with all the action and use of special effects.

The Lav Kush Ramlila Committee that organises the event on the Red Fort grounds uses plenty of special effects during burning of the effigies.

"When the effigy of Ravana was set on fire, its eyeballs rolled and it screamed "Hey Ram"," said secretary of the committee Arjun Kumar.

The combination of fireworks and special effects left the children thrilled.

"I love the effects that are used in the effigies when they are burnt. The best was when Ravana screamed. It all looked realistic," said a 16-year-old Nishant Khatri, at the Lav-Kush Ramlila Committee.

Agreed, Rupan Kahlon, 12, who witnessed the effigy burning at Shri Ramlila Committee in Punjabi Bagh area of west Delhi.

"The fireworks were so good. At first I got a bit startled by the sound and the light but then I started enjoying them," said the resident of west Delhi's Moti Nagar.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were among the leaders who witnessed the burning of the effigies at Subhash Maidan near the historic Red Fort.