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India Goes Festive Amidst Tight Security
(October 14, 2002)

Ram Lila: Lord Ram's life on stage
Ravan's effigy  ready to meet its fiery end
          NEW DELHI: The festival season has begun in northern India, this year in the background of a series of stepped up militant attacks at several places and communal disturbances in Gujarat. The police therefore are on their toes everywhere. Special security arrangements are being made, especially at the venues of the current 10-day celebrations of Dussehra (Ramlila) and Durga Puja, culminating on Tuesday, October 15.
A theme pandal (tent) in a Calcutta locality for the Durga Puja festival. The festival , which symbolises the triumph of good over evil, is marked by prayers, processions and musical programmes.Worship of Hindu goddess Durga is part of the ten-day festival of Durga Puja, which culminates alongwith the Dussehra celebrations
          In Delhi, the Capital of India,especially, disaster management centres have been set up. Sniffer dogs will be deployed at places of various functions, where usually people throng in large numbers. The police have identified all major venues of Ram Lila and idol immersion. There will be commandos positioned t high risk areas and mobile anti-terrorist squads have been formed.
          For north Indians, the ten-day Dussehra ends with the burning of effigies of Ravan, the demon king who kidnapped Lord Ram's consort Sita and was killed in a war that followed - symbolising victory of good over evil.   For others like Bengalis it is the period of
Durga puja in Delhi
Durga (Goddess of power) puja festival, ending in the immersion of idols in river. Usually both fall on the same day. For all Hindus the period of celebration is also called Navratri, culminating in Vijaydashami (victory day). South Indians perform Saraswathi (Goddess of learning) puja, confined to their homes and limited to a visit to the temple in the morning. Deepavali, a greater festival, follows on November 4. Thereafter Christmas, which is also celebrated all over India on a large scale.

-India Overseas

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