Pomp and splendour mark beginning of Dussehra festivities in Mysore

October 5th, 2009 KULLU - The week-long Kullu Dussehra festival concluded with the sacrifice of a buffalo, a rooster, a lamb, a fish and a crab. Simultaneously, a huge pile of grass is set on fire symbolising the burning of Lanka, the kingdom of demon king Ravana.

September 30th, 2009 MANDSAUR - The devotees walked on fire to propitiate the divinities at the 'Nalchamata' Temple in Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh. The age-old ritual is performed by the devotees with enthusiasm very year, during the festival of 'Dussehra' This year too, a ditch, four feet wide and 12 feet long, was dug in the temple premises, and filled with burning embers.

September 28th, 2009 KANPUR - Hindus held special prayers to honour the demon king Ravana here on Monday.he event was organised on the festival of 'Dussehra' that marks the triumph of good over evil. Even as the demon king Ravana is vilified and his effigy burnt in most parts of the country on Dussehra, the people here worship and glorify him to honour his intelligence and valour.

September 28th, 2009 AHMEDABAD - Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today performed 'Shastra Puja' or weapon worship on the occasion of Dussehra. Performing the rituals, Modi also gave a pep talk to personnel of various security forces present at the ceremony.

September 28th, 2009 MYSORE - A colourful procession of caparisoned elephants or 'jumbo savari', watched by thousands of people including those from abroad, marked the end of the 10-day Mysore Dussehra celebrations here Monday. The highlight of the jumbo savari was elephant Balarama carrying the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari placed on the 750-kg golden howdah (carriage) mounted atop him.

September 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Vice President M. Hamid Ansari on Sunday greeted the people of the country for the auspicious occasion of Dussehra festival.

September 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, on Sunday greeted the countrymen on the occasion of Dussehra festival, which is to be celebrated on Monday (Sep.27). "On the auspicious occasion of Dussehra, I extend my greetings to all my fellow citizens and wish them success, prosperity and happiness," President Pratibha Patil said in a message on Sunday.

September 26th, 2009 JAIPUR - Recession has badly affected the sale of effigies of demon King Ravana and others, burnt during the Dussehra festival, in Jaipur. The artists are reducing the size of the effigies this year, in order to meet the budget of the buyers.

September 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has greeted the nation on the occasion of Durga Puja and Dussehra.

September 24th, 2009 KULLU - Kullu valley is abuzz with activity, as the residents get ready to celebrate the week-long 'Dussehra' festival, which is celebrated on the tenth day of 'Navratri'. The history of Kullu 'Dussehra' dates back to the 17th century when the King Jaganand installed an idol of Raghunath (Lord Ram) on his throne as a mark of penance, after which Raghunath came to be known as the ruling deity of the valley.

September 21st, 2009 JAMMU - Setting a perfect example of communal harmony, Muslim artists here prepared effigies of demon king Ravana, his brother Kumbhakaran and son Meghnath for 'Dussehra' celebrations. These artists have been preparing effigies and it is main source of their livelihood.

September 19th, 2009 MYSORE - Tourists from abroad danced to the beat of drums, adding colour to the festivities of the 10-day-long Dussehra festival that began here Saturday. Art of Living founder and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar inaugurated the festivities by worshipping goddess Chamundeshwari atop Chamundi Hills in Mysore, about 130 kms from Bangalore.

July 4th, 2009 MYSORE J - A dawn to dusk shutdown call given by the Hindu Jagaran Vedike in protest against an attack on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) youth leader evoked a mixed response here today. Normal life was partially affected by the shutdown.

July 3rd, 2009 MYSORE - The Rapid Action Force (RAF) staged a flag march in the riot-hit areas of Mysore today. The flag march was taken out day after three persons died in communal violence at a religious site.

April 6th, 2009 MYSORE - Sri Ram Sene leader Pramod Muthalik was taken into preventive custody on Monday. "Muthalik had come to visit the Kyatharamanhalli suburb, where group clashes took place this week," Mysore police said, adding that the prohibitory orders had been imposed in the area under Section 144.