Dussehra at Red Fort: PM Modi says Lord Rama's story still inspires people

Former PM Manmohan Singh and President Ram Nath Kovind also took part in the celebrations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Red Fort ground for the Vijayadashami celebrations. Photo: Twitter (@ANI)

With the country celebrating Dussehra on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Lord Rama and Lord Krishna's stories still inspired people after thousands of years, as he took part in the celebrations at New Delhi's Red Fort ground.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will celebrate the occasion with the jawans of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police at Joshimath in Uttarakhand.

The burning of the giant effigies of Ravana, Meghnad, and Kumbhakaran, signifying the triumph of good over evil, was organised by the Shri Dharmik Leela Committee, which has been organising one of the city's most high-profile Raamlila events at the grounds opposite the historic Red Fort since 1924.

Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Union ministers Harsh Vardhan, Vijay Goel, and Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari were also among those present.

Speaking at the event, Modi said that festivals "are a medium of education and teach us unity. Though it has been thousands of years, the tales of Lords Rama and Krishna enhance consciousness in our society."

He also urged the people to take a pledge on the occasion and contribute to the process of nation-building.

President Kovind said, "We all should work towards growth and overall development of the society."

Last year, Modi had participated in the Dussehra celebrations in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, which was then facing Assembly elections.

Earlier, the President, the Vice-President and former prime minister Singh applied 'tilak' on the foreheads of the Ramlila participants playing the roles of Rama, Laxmana, and Hanuman, the chief protagonists of the epic Ramayana, parts of which are enacted during the Navratra celebrations that culminated on Dussehra with the slaying of Ravana.

BJP chief Amit Shah attended another such event nearby, organised by the Luv Kush Ram Lila committee near the Red Fort, while Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi attended the one organised by the Nav Shri Dharmik Lila Committee.

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It has been thousands of years, still Lord Rama and Lord Krishna's stories inspire people, PM Modi said while addressing the gathered audience at the Red Fort ground.

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Topics : Narendra Modi Dussehra

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First Published: Sep 30 2017 | 5:38 PM IST