Dussehra celebration turns sombre as dozens killed in train accident in Amritsar

People celebrated Dussehra with traditional pomp Friday and marked the victory of good over evil, but the festivities turned tragic in Amritsar where a train ploughed through a crowd of revellers killing at least 60 of them.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the celebrations at the Parade ground in New Delhi. They fired arrows to set the effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna ablaze.

PM Modi and President Kovind applied 'Tilak' on the forehead of participants playing the role of Ram, Sita and Lakshman at the stage amid the chants of Jai Shree Ram by the audience.

"I want to congratulate people of the country on the occasion of Vijayadashami that marks the victory of good over evil. The festival encourages good practices in our lives," Kovind said.

"One should take care that the celebrations do not cause pollution and inconvenience to others," he said.

In New Delhi, police made elaborate arrangements for the event which also led to the disruption of traffic at various places. Long queues were seen at the Red Fort metro station after the event.

In Amritsar, at least 50 people were killed when a crowd of Dussehra revellers that had spilt onto railway tracks while watching the burning of Ravana effigy was run over by officials said.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi also participated in the Dussehra celebrations at an event organised In New Delhi by the Shri Nav Dharmik Leela Committee.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh celebrated Dussehra with BSF jawans and performed 'Shastra Puja' in the forward post of Bikaner along the highly sensitive Indo-Pak border, officials said.

This was the first time a senior Union minister conducted the 'Shastra Puja' or worship of weapons on the occasion of Vijayadashami along India's border with Pakistan.

The home minister arrived at the frontier headquarters of the Border Security Force (BSF) here last evening, an official said.

'Shastra Puja' is part of the Dussehra festival which is celebrated to mark the victory of Lord Ram over the demon king Ravana.

Addressing the BSF personnel, the home minister praised the multi-dimensional role of the BSF in guarding the Indo-Pak and Indo-Bangladesh borders, maintaining law and order in internal disturbances and tackling the Left Wing Extremism.

Last year, the home minister had celebrated Dussehra at Joshimath in Uttarakhand along with the Sino-Indian border.

In Himachal Pradesh, the week-long Dussehra festival in Kullu district began amidst elaborate security arrangements.

The internationally renowned festival is unique as it gets underway when Dussehra festivities culminate in the rest of the country and unlike other places, effigies of Ravan, Meghnad and Kumbhakaran are not burnt.

As part of the seven-day festival, around 300 deities will gather at the historic Dhalpur maidan to pay obeisance to Lord Raghunath.

Traditional dances and folk songs will be performed by artists from various parts of the hill-state and across the country.

Additional district magistrate (ADM) cum chief executive officer (CEO) of district disaster management authority (DDMA), Akshay Sood, said that a documentary, 'Pathways to Resilience' would also be screened during the festival to spread awareness about climate change and flash floods.

In Rajasthan, colourful effigies of Ravana along with the demon king’s son Meghnad and brother Kumbhakaran were set on fire as people celebrated the festival.

Dusshehra fairs were organised at several places in the state including Adarsh Nagar, Mansarover, Vidhyadhar Nagar, Malviya Nagar among others. Dressed in their festive best, people visited the fairs in large numbers.

The Rashtriya Swamsevak Sangh (RSS) also conducted 'Shastra Puja' and took out a march at seven places.