Dusshera

Dusshera has been the big festival that I keep stumbling across. It commemorates the defeat of the Demon King Ravana by Lord Ram to rescue his wife Sumitra.

The upshot is that they have celebrations for a solid week or so. I was told by an Indian I met on the train that it is approximately equivelent to Christmas; not the most important day on the Hindu religious calender, but the one that people enjoy the most. Dusshera was what the people in Chondni Chowk were starting when we were there.

Anyway, as part of the festival they burn the Demon King Ravana in effigy at sunset. So, you can see the big effigy of Ravana that is full of straw and fire crackers and ready to be burned. Sadly we had to leave before the fire started, but I saw a from the train on the way back to Delhi. Also, you can't see it in this picture, but the field this was held on is absolutely packed. Behind me is a whole lot of people having a good time.