President Patil watches Dussera festivities

New Delhi, Sep 26 (ANI): President Pratibha Patil participated in the celebrations of Ramlila where a drama based on the life of Lord Rama is staged here on Friday.

She was accompanied by her husband Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat and other guests at the annual Dussera function organised by the city's Luv Kush Ramlila Committee.

Later, in her address to the gathering, she advised that the society ought to adopt the values and principles of Lord Rama for a successful life.

"He (Lord Rama) was a man of integrity and he never compromised on his principles. We must try to follow his virtuous principles of welfare, truth, good behaviour and devotion to duty in our life," she said.

'Ramlila', basically is an enactment of Hindu Lord Rama's life and it is presented as a serial with the story varying from seven to 31 days.

However, during Dussera, the 'Ramlila' is staged for ten days as a public function.

The festive fervour of the people comes alive with the rich performance of the traditional folk artistes at the Ramlila functions.

Episodes from Ramayana are staged on all the nine nights during the Dussera, which culminates with the triumph of Lord Rama over Ravana on the tenth day known as Vjayadashami (the day of victory).

Dussera is one of the most significant festivals of India. The festival is actually the expression of worshiping Shakti, the cosmic energy, manifest in the form of Goddess Durga, who defeated the demon, Mahishashura. (ANI)