Dussehra Celebrated with Fanfare, Piety

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New Delhi (Oct 12, 2005): Huge idols of Goddess Durga were immersed

in rivers and large effigies of demon king Ravana, his son and

brother went up in flames marking the victory of good over evil as

Dussehra, one of the most popular festivals, was celebrated all over

the country today.

 

In Eastern India, the day began with the 'Dashami Puja' (worship of

Durga), with devotees offering flowers and smearing the idol with

vermilion, before taking it in a procession for immersion.

 

Police in Kolkata had made elaborate arrangements for immersion of

hundreds of Durga idols as a sea of humanity converged on the banks

of the Hoogly, marking the grand finale of the five-day Puja

festival.

 

Reports of immersion also came in from the capital and other cities

with large Bengali population even as some people have decided to

observe the festival tomorrow in view of difference in opinion over

the last day of the Puja.

 

In the north, a surcharged atmosphere of festivity pervaded all over

as people attired in their best came out in large numbers to see the

demon kings going up in flames to the chants of 'Jai Shree Ram' at

sunset.

 

In the south, where the day is celebrated as 'Vidyarambam' or

initiation into the world of letters, thousands of children between

three and five years of age were taken to temples and cultural

centres where prominent people like former sprint queen P T Usha led

the ceremonies. After invoking the goddess of learning Saraswati,

the kids were helped to write 'Hari...sree...' in rice-filled

platters with the index finger.

 

In some places in Kerala, churches also organised the Vidyarambam

ceremony as the ritual has over the years assumed a secular

dimension. (Agencies)

 

SOURCE: Chennai Online

URL: http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%

7B89D626FE-DFB3-4029-BC2F-E6CBB8F20615%7D&CATEGORYNAME=National