Festivals like Dussehra not just for entertainment, must serve a purpose: PM Modi

Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, is a festival celebrated on the 10th day of Navratri every year.

New Delhi: As the nine-day long Navratri culminated, the nation is on Saturday observing Vijayadashami, the day of victory, with religious fervour.

Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the invincible Buffalo king Mahishasura. The occasion is also seen as the day when Lord Ram defeated Ravana, which marks triumph of good over evil.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu greeted the nation on the auspicious occasion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will take part in Dussehra celebrations at Red Fort Ground in New Delhi later today, also took to his Twitter page to send out wishes to the nation.

30 September 2017

20:46 IST

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan celebrates Vijayadashami along with wife in Sehore district's Budhni.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan celebrated #vijayadashami along with his wife, in Sehore district's Budhni. pic.twitter.com/tclofiDyy8

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2017

19:53 IST

Uttarakhand's Dehradun celebrates Dussehra.

#Dussehra celebrations in Uttarakhand's Dehradun. pic.twitter.com/fl82N1mGZk

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2017

19:52 IST

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan attends Dussehra celebrations in Amritsar, says, 'I wish fight against corruption in country reaches conclusion'.

Amritsar: Union Min Dharmendra Pradhan attended #Dussehra celebrations, says,'I wish fight against corruption in country reaches conclusion' pic.twitter.com/avXxuvoLY1

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2017

19:43 IST

Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal workers brandish and fire arms in the air on vijayadashami in Uttar Pradesh's Agra.

#WATCH: Vishva Hindu Parishad & Bajrang Dal workers brandish & fire arms in the air on #vijayadashami in Uttar Pradesh's Agra. pic.twitter.com/PjQi15j6jY

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 30, 2017

19:42 IST

Karnataka's Mysore Palace is being lit up for Dasara celebrations.

19:40 IST

Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh take part in Dussehra celebrations in Raipur.

Chhattisgarh: CM Raman Singh attends #Dussehra celebrations in Raipur. pic.twitter.com/RlCVSaH3gF

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2017

19:39 IST

Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti attends Dussehra celebrations at Srinagar's Polo Ground.

18:49 IST

Former PM Manmohan Singh and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi take part in Dussehra celebrations in Delhi.

18:46 IST

BJP President Amit Shah and actor John Abraham take part in Dussehra celebrations at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan.

BJP President Amit Shah & actor John Abraham take part in #Dussehra celebrations at Delhi's Luv Kush Ramlila. pic.twitter.com/KXSKgeTflS

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2017

18:34 IST

Effigies of Ravan, Kumbhakarn and Meghnad are being burnt at Delhi's Red Fort ground. PM Modi and President Kovind take part in the celebration.

Effigies of Ravan, Kumbhakarn and Meghnad burnt at Delhi's Red Fort Ground in the presence of President Kovind and PM Modi #Dussehra pic.twitter.com/7oj1ZFRM9D

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2017

18:32 IST

Prabhu Ram ke jeevan aadarsh aaj puri manavta ke liye atyadhik prasangik hain: President Kovind #Vijayadashami pic.twitter.com/JCQLtbTb7z

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2017

18:24 IST

Festivals like Dussehra should not just be entertaining, must have a purpose: PM Modi at Red Fort

Aise utsav se sirf manoranjan nahi koi maksad banna chahiye, kuch kar guzarne ka sankalp banna chahiye: PM Modi #Vijayadashami pic.twitter.com/lYcQPY035J

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2017

17:55 IST

President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu arrive at the Red Fort Ground to attend Vijayadashami celebrations.

Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Red Fort Ground. #Vijayadashami pic.twitter.com/0nk5hBZ6Fv

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2017

17:50 IST

PM Narendra Modi attends Dussehra celebrations at the Red Fort ground for Vijayadashami celebrations. He interacts with former PM Manmohan Singh.

Delhi: PM Narendra Modi arrives at Red Fort Ground for #Vijayadashami celebrations, interacts with former PM Manmohan Singh. pic.twitter.com/QAsgRbjHS8

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2017

17:49 IST

Vijayadashami is being celebrated at Delhi's Red Fort Ground. Former PM Manmohan Singh, BJP's Manoj Tiwari and Vijay Goel grace the occasion.

17:17 IST

Procession of Durga idol immersion in Tripura's Agartala.

Visuals of Durga idol immersion procession in Tripura's Agartala. pic.twitter.com/GGoRnJDBxW

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2017

16:30 IST

The idol immersion ritual starts in Siliguri's Lalmohan Moulik Niranjan Ghat.

#Visuals of Durga idol immersion from Siliguri's Lalmohan Moulik Niranjan Ghat #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/Fh1hImzbVb

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2017

16:28 IST

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik greets people on Dussehra.

14:07 IST

Women in Guwahati, Kolkata offer prayers and participate in 'Sindur Khela' on the occasion Dussehra.

14:03 IST

Dasara festival being celebrated in Karnataka's Mysore Palace.

Dasara festival being celebrated in Karnataka's Mysore Palace pic.twitter.com/hjn3y15eo4

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2017

13:58 IST

Bollywood fraternity greets people on Vijayadashami: 

Anil Kapoor: May the victory of Good over Evil inspire you towards having your own victories! #HappyDussehra #VijayaDashami.

Akshay Kumar: May all your problems burn along with the effigy of Ravana and may you get success in everything you do. #HappyDussehra

Bhumi Pednekar: Wishing all you beautiful people a very #HappyDussehra .May the good in your life take over all the evil.Light,love and happiness

Sridevi Boney Kapoor: Wishing everyone a very Happy Dusshera. May this day bring victory, happiness and peace to all. #HappyDussehra

Vivek Anand Oberoi: May this Dussehra burn all your worries with Ravana and bring you and your family loads of happiness! A very #HappyDussehra to all of you!

13:58 IST

Internet services to remain suspended from 7 pm today to 4 am on tomorrow and again from 2 pm to 11.59 pm tomorrow in Bhilwara, Rajasthan.

13:36 IST

Home Minister Rajnath Singh celebrates Dussehra with ITBP jawans in Jyotirmath.

Uttarakhand: HM Rajnath Singh celebrated #Dussehra with ITBP jawans in Jyotirmath pic.twitter.com/q9sRWJF3fk

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2017

13:35 IST

Effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarn and Meghnad erected in Patna's Gandhi Maidan in Bihar for Vijayadashmi.

Bihar: Effigies of Ravan, Kumbhakarn and Meghnad erected in Patna's Gandhi Maidan for Vijayadashmi pic.twitter.com/0kLso1QNpg

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2017

13:34 IST

Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani performs Shastra Puja alongwith his wife at his Gandhinagar residence on Dussehra. 

#Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani performed Shastra Puja alongwith his wife at his residence in #Gandhinagar on #Dussehra. pic.twitter.com/rZUjLLR67N

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2017

13:34 IST

West Bengal: Women celebrate 'Sindur Khela' on the occasion of #Dussehra in Kolkata pic.twitter.com/gJk74c9y7k

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2017

13:33 IST

West Bengal: People throng puja pandals and offer prayers on the occasion of Dussehra in Kolkata

West Bengal: People throng puja pandals and offer prayers on the occasion of Dussehra in Kolkata pic.twitter.com/0hlj8fSuIt

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2017

13:32 IST

Kanpur: People offer prayers to Ravan at Dashanan Temple on Dussehra; temple opens every year only in the morning of Dussehra

Kanpur: People offer prayers to Ravan at Dashanan Temple on Dussehra; temple opens every year only in the morning of Dussehra pic.twitter.com/nim2ps2HEP

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 30, 2017

13:32 IST

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi tweets, "Best wishes to all of you on the occasion of Vijaya Dashmi. Happy Dussehra." 

13:31 IST

President Ram Nath Kovind also extends Dussehra greetings, saying, "Greetings to fellow citizens on Vijaya Dashami, a celebration of victory of good over evil. Shubho Bijoya!."

13:31 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets the nation on the occasion of Vijayadashami, tweets, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday greeted the nation on the occasion of Vijaya Dashmi."

13:29 IST

RSS chief Bhagwat offers condolences to victims of Mumbai stampede that took place on Friday morning, in his Vijayadashami speech.

13:29 IST

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addresses party workers during the Vijayadashami festivities in Nagpur, calls people to take up cow protection without considering religion.