Dussehra 2017: Nation celebrates festival with religious fervor

As the nine-day long Navratri culminated, the nation is today observing Vijayadashami, the day of victory, with religious fervor.

Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the invincible Buffalo king Mahishasura.

The occasion is also seen as the day when Lord Ram defeated Ravana, which marks triumph of good over evil.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu have greeted the nation on the auspicious occasion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will take part in Dussehra celebrations at Red Fort Ground in New Delhi later today, also took to his Twitter page to send out wishes to the nation.

India celebrates Dussehra

In Bengal and Eastern India, Vijayadashami marks the end of Durgotsava. Durga Puja is a ten-day festival, of which the last five days are typically special.

On the tenth day, married women bid a tearful goodbye to Goddess Durga and celebrate 'Sindur Khela.'

Northern India celebrates this day as victory of Hindu Lord Rama over demon Ravana. On the day of Dussehra, effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghnad are burnt. Celebrations in the preceding nine-days of Navratri include recital of the Ramayana as a Ramlila and dandiya raas.

Mysore Dussehra celebrations are known to be the most spectacular in the nation. Mysuru Dasara (Dussehra) is the official state festival of Karnataka. The city on this day looks the brightest as the famous Mysuru Palace is lit up with 100,000 light bulbs, making for a stunning sight.

-ANI