New Delhi/Hapur:

A Muslim family in Uttar Pradesh has been making Dussehra effigies for the last three generations showcasing the beauty of cultural diversity.

Masoom Ali from Uttar Pradesh’s Hapur district has made a 70-feet effigy of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakaran for Dussehra.

“Our family has been doing this for 100 years. My grandfather did it, my father did it. Our future generations will do it too,” he told NDTV.

Carrying forward the family legacy, Masoom Ali said Dussehra is not just a celebration for them, but also a source of livelihood.

Their effigies are an integral part of the annual Ramlila event in Hapur’s Pilkhuwa, where the effigies of Ravana, Meghnad, and Kumbhakaran are burned on Dussehra evening, marking the triumph of good over evil.

Masoom’s brother-in-law, who also works with him, said they wait for Dussehra every year, the way they wait for Eid.

Masoom said inflation has affected their business over the years because of a steady surge in raw material prices. “In every few years, the size of the Ravana decreases by 10-feet,” he said.

Vijayadashami marks the 10th day of the Shardiya Navratri when people across the country burn effigies of Ravana along with his son Meghnath and brother Kumbhakaran.

Dussehra and Vijay Dashmi represent different names for the same Hindu festival, observed on the tenth day of the Ashvin month in the Hindu calendar. This significant festival symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and is also known as Dasara, Dashain, and Navratri Puja in different regions.

The festival is being celebrated across the country today. In many parts several rallies have been planned with two big rallies by Shiv Sena factions to be taken out in Mumbai today. Over 15,000 police personnel have been deployed in Mumbai, in view of Dussehra rallies of both factions of Shiv Sena and immersion of goddesses Durga idols. 

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) also organised its annual Vijayadashami Utsav in Nagpur city, where singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan attended as the chief guest.

In view of Dussehra festivities, there will be certain traffic restrictions in Delhi, Mumbai, Noida and some other parts to ensure smooth traffic flow. Several roads will be blocked and traffic will be diverted to avoid congestion. 

Here are the LIVE updates on Dussehra 2023 celebrations: 

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Ranchi’s Durga Bari Temple Keeps Alive Century-Old Vijayadashmi Tradition

Women bid farewell to Goddess Durga with a ritual known as ‘Sindoor Khela’ on the occasion of Vijayadashami on Tuesday at Ranchi’s Durga Bari temple. The temple has a history of celebrating the Durga Puja festival for over a century.

Vijayadashmi marks the end of the five-day festivities of Durga Puja.

People gathered at the temple since early this morning to participate in rituals and women participated in the Sindoor khela- a practise where married women smear each other with sindur or vermillion and pray for the long lives of their husbands.

Rahul Gandhi Extends Wishes To People On Vijayadashmi

अच्छाई की बुराई पर जीत के महापर्व, विजयदशमी की सभी को हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं। असत्य और अहंकार का नाश हो, सत्य और मानवता का सभी के जीवन में वास हो।

शुभ दशहरा। pic.twitter.com/zltEFvGYbN

– Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 24, 2023

26 Detained For Looting At Durga Puja Pandals In Bhubaneswar

The Odisha Police have detained 26 people, including five women, for allegedly being involved in snatching gold chains, mobile phones and other valuables during the Durga Puja festival here.

Patrolling at various puja pandals in Saheed Nagar, Khandagiri, Mancheswar, Nayapalli and Laxmisagar areas of the state capital was stepped up and 26 suspected snatchers were detained, the office of Bhubaneswar DCP said in a statement.

Eight mobile phones and Rs 7,000 in cash have been recovered from the possession of the detainees, the police said, adding that an investigation is going on.

Effigies Of Ravan, Meghnad, Kumbhkaran Installed At Red Fort Ground On Vijaya Dashmi

As the nation is swamped with the celebration of ‘Vijaya Dashmi’ or ‘Dussehra’ today, the national capital is also gearing up for vibrant celebrations.

Effigies of Ravan, Meghnad, and Kumbhkaran have been installed at Delhi’s Red Fort ground on the occasion.

The Red Fort ground of the national capital is famous for its grand Dussehra celebration organised with great pomp and show.

The ‘Vijyaya Dashmi’ or ‘Dussehra’, is celebrated to mark the triumph of good over evil.

Team Uddhav Gears Up For Dussehra Rally At Iconic Shivaji Park In Mumbai

As the country is steeped in Dussehra celebrations today, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) is all geared up to hold its annual Dussehra rally at the iconic Shivaji Park in Maharashtra’s Mumbai.

Meanwhile, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena will organise its Dussehra rally at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan.

Earlier this month, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced that the annual Dussehra rally will be organised at Azad Maidan instead of Shivaji Park.

Rajnath Singh Celebrates Vijayadashami With Soldiers In Arunachal’s Bum La

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday extended his wishes on Vijayadashami to the troops during his visit to the India-China border at Arunachal’s Bum La.

He appreciated the efforts of the soldiers in securing the borders of the country in sub-minus temperatures at an altitude of 15000 feet above sea level.

“I wanted to see the tougher conditions in which our soldiers were securing India’s borders,” Rajnath Singh told troops.

Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge Extends Greetings On Dussehra

Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge extended Dusshera greetings to the people on Tuesday.

Mallikarjun Kharge took to his social media account X, greeted people on Dusshera, and also urged them to “take a pledge to end ego and evil and promote social harmony, amity and brotherhood.”

“Hearty greetings to all the countrymen on the holy festival of Vijayadashami, which symbolises the victory of truth over falsehood, good over evil and justice over injustice. On this great festival, we should take a pledge to end ego and evil and promote social harmony, amity and brotherhood,” Kharge said in a post on X.

Anurag Thakur Offers Prayers At Jwala Ji Temple In Himachal

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday offered prayers to ‘Maa Jwala Devi’ at the Jwala Ji temple in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra on ‘Vijaya Dashmi’ and also, on the occasion of his birthday.

“…I extend greetings to the countrymen on Vijayadashmi. At Maa Jwala Ji Temple, I would like to pray that our country keeps going forward, Himachal Pradesh also keeps progressing and that the blessings of Maa Jwala be with all of us…Greetings to everyone on Dussehra”, Thakur said while speaking to reporters in Kangra.

Dussehra Updates: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Addresses Annual Vijayadashmi Utsav In Nagpur

#WATCH | Nagpur, Maharashtra: While addressing RSS Vijayadashmi Utsav, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat says, “…There are some people in the world and in also India who do not want that India should move forward… They try to create factions and clashes in society. Because of our… pic.twitter.com/P4nXZcEP27

– ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2023

In Kerela, Vijaya Dashami Is A Day When Initiation Of Learning Happens: Shashi Tharoor

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerela: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, “It’s a special occasion ‘Vidyarambham’. All of India celebrates Dussehra Vijayadashami but cso it’s the job of elders to teach… pic.twitter.com/VWDM6KOMzP

– ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2023

Dussehra 2023 Updates: Yogi Adityanath Offers Prayers At Gorakhnath Temple In Gorakhpur

#WATCH | UP CM Yogi Adityanath offers prayers at Gorakhnath temple in Gorakhpur pic.twitter.com/II0dO2RiN8

– ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 24, 2023

Dussehra Updates: Anurag Thakur Extends Wishes On Vijaya Dashmi

#WATCH | Union Minister Anurag Thakur says, “…I extend greetings to the countrymen on Vijayadashmi. At Maa Jwala Ji Temple, I would like to pray that our country keep going forward, Himachal Pradesh also keep progressing and the blessings of Maa Jwala be with all of… https://t.co/D5AD38XRbHpic.twitter.com/ccTuhBOdWd

– ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2023

Devotees Flock To Shirdi’s Sai Baba Temple On Vijaya Dashmi In Maharashtra

On the occasion of ‘Vijaya Dashmi’ or ‘Dussehra’, devotees flocked to Sai Baba Temple in Maharashtra’s Shirdi. As the priests performed ‘Pooja’, devotees chanted ‘Sai Baba ki Jai’ with enthusiasm.

Shirdi is deemed to be the home of the famous spiritual leader, Sai Baba. It is one of the most prominent pilgrimage sites for the Hindus. Every day, devotees in large numbers throng the temple and queue up to get a glimpse of ‘Sai Baba’.

Tiny Tots Step Into World Of Knowledge In Kerala On Vijaya Dasami

Thousands of tiny tots were entered into the world of letters and knowledge in Kerala on the auspicious Vijayadasami day on Tuesday, marking the culmination of the nine-day-long annual Navratri festival. According to Hindu tradition, Vijayadasami is observed as the day of “Vidyarambham”, the beginning of learning, in the southern state.

Besides temples, schools, cultural institutions, local libraries, and media houses made elaborate arrangements for “ezhuthiniruthu” – the initiation ceremony.

Children and their parents thronged these places in huge numbers from early morning to take part in the ritualistic ceremony.

As per the custom, scholars, writers, teachers, priests and other prominent figures in society make children write their first letters of learning on the occasion. They help the tots, usually aged two to three years, write “HariSree” on platters filled with rice, or it is scribbled on a child’s tongue with a golden ring.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Performs ‘Shastra Pooja’ On Vijayadashami Utsav In Nagpur

#WATCH | Maharashtra | RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat performs ‘Shastra Pooja’ on the occasion of Vijayadashami Utsav in Nagpur. Singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan is here as the chief guest of the function. https://t.co/bBzMEeJXALpic.twitter.com/f6xEMNkqHe

– ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2023

Dussehra 2023 Live Updates: Amit Shah Extends Wishes On Vijaya Dashami

समस्त देशवासियों को ‘विजयादशमी’ की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं।
अधर्म का अंधकार चाहे कितना भी घना क्यों न हो, सत्य के आधार पर धर्म के उजाले की विजय शाश्वत है। पाप पर पुण्य की विजय का प्रतीक ‘विजयादशमी’ हमें सदैव विवेक और सत्य के मार्ग पर चलने की प्रेरणा व शिक्षा देने वाला पर्व है।
प्रभु… pic.twitter.com/FX8bcVnNle

– Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 24, 2023

Dussehra 2023 Updates: PM Modi Extends Wishes On Vijaya Dashami

देशभर के मेरे परिवारजनों को विजयादशमी की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं। यह पावन पर्व नकारात्मक शक्तियों के अंत के साथ ही जीवन में अच्छाई को अपनाने का संदेश लेकर आता है।

Wishing you all a Happy Vijaya Dashami!

– Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 24, 2023