Evil goes up in smoke as Punjab, Haryana celebrate Dussehra

CHANDIGARH: Giant effigies of demon king Ravana, his son Meghnad and brother Kumbhakaran went up in flames as Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh today joined the nation in celebrating Dussehra, marking the triumph of good over evil.

At many places, including Amritsar and Ludhiana, effigies symbolising terrorism and Pakistan were also burnt.

Effigies of Pakistan with pictures of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed went up in flames at many places alongside Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghnad.

With police keeping a hawk-eye vigil, the festivities passed off peacefully in different parts of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

A Dussehra committee member in Ludhiana said, "There is lot of anger among the residents after the Uri terror attack and Pakistan should stop encouraging terrorism, this is why we put up effigies of Sharif as Ravana."

Notably, a 210-feet tall Ravana effigy had been put up at Mela ground at Barara in Haryana's Ambala district.

In Panchkula in Haryana, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was the chief guest.

In Chandigarh, the star attraction was an 85-foot tall Ravana effigy at the Sector 46 ground, where drones were used to shower flowers.

Before the effigies were set on fire, homage was paid to Uri martyrs at many places, including Chandigarh.