over evil once again—even if it was for just a day—with the city celebrating Dussehra with much fervour. Also defeated were the scourge of terrorism and chikungunya as their effigies, along with that of Ravana, were burnt to the ground at the Ramlila grounds across the city.
The Shri Dharmik Leela Committee’s Ram Lila event at Parade Ground 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. There were VIPs aplenty at other events too, especially those organised by Luv Kush, Indraprastha and Sri Nav Dharmic Ramleela and Sri Ramleela committees.
Conveying his wishes, President Mukherjee appealed for communal harmony. “I have come here after celebrating Durga Puja at my native village. Immediately after this, we will mark Muharram, which is a symbol of sacrifice.” Mukherjee said these celebrations bound 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”.
The dignitaries performed an ‘aarti’ and put a ceremonial vermillion mark on the foreheads of the actors reprising the roles of Ram, Laxman and Hanuman. In an apparent break from tradition, they didn’t shoot arrows at the effigies. Instead, the President—dressed in his signature Safari suit—was presented a golden trident (trishul) and a smiling Congress president, who has just recovered from illness, got a decorated bow and an arrow.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not attend the event as he participated in Dussehra celebrations in Lucknow. Union minister Harsh Vardhan read out a written message from the PM, instead. Thereafter, Gandhi and Singh moved on to attend the Nav Dharmik Leela Committee’s celebrations at the Red Fort lawns where they were joined by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.