PM Narendra Modi, Dr Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi attend Dussehra celebrations

New Delhi, Oct 3: PM Narendra Modi, President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress Chairperson Sonia Gandhi attended Dussehra celebrations at Subhash Grounds in New Delhi, on Friday.

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan also attended the high scale event, where an effigy of Ravan, the demon king killed by Ram in epic Ramayana, was burnt in a depiction of the destruction of evil.

Here are the Live Updates:

6.26 pm: PM, President, Vice President and other senior political leaders leave the Subhash Ground, the venue of Dussehra celebrations.

6.18 pm: The effigy of the demon Raavana burnt, symbolising the defeat of all evils.

6.17 pm: The effigy of Megnaad burnt, amid huge noise of crackers.

6.16 pm: The effigy of Kumbhkaran gone up in flames.

6.15 pm: PM symbolically handed over a bow and an arrow, after which the effigy of Ravan is burnt.

6.13 pm: President Pranab Mukherjee concludes his brief speech by saying, Dussehra teaches us to face challenges with determination, adding that the festival is symbol of "victory of good on evil".

6.11 pm: President Pranab Mukherjee begins his address in Hindi.

6.04 pm: A skit is presented on stage depicting the fight sequence between Lord Rama and demon Raavana.

6.00 pm: The dignitaries lit a ceremonial lamp, and put tilak and offer flowers to actors depicting Ram and Lakshman at the event venue.

5.45 pm: Modi pays floral tribute to the actor dressed as Hanuman, who was standing behind Ram and Lakshman.

5.40 pm: On the dais, the leaders release white doves, as a message of peace.

5.30 pm: PM Narendra Modi meets Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi and former PM Dr Manmohan Singh.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his heartiest greetings to all the people on the occasion of Dussehra.

"Greetings to everyone on Vijaya Dashmi," the prime minister said in a statement.

"May good always prevail over evil," Modi said.

Vijaya Dashmi, also known as Dussehra, is being celebrated on Friday.

OneIndia News