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This
was carried out in order to invoke the blessings of
Durga Maa for the killing of Ravana, the ten-headed
demon king of Sri Lanka who had abducted Seeta, wife
of Lord Rama.
Durga
Maa divulged the secret to Rama on how he could slay
the great Ravana. Hence upon vanquishing the demon Ravana,
Lord Rama with Sita and younger brother Laxmana, returned
victorious to his kingdom of Ayodhya on the day which
is called 'Diwali'.
Dassera
celebrates the victory of good over evil. Enormous effigies
of Lord Ravana stuffed with firecrackers are lit with
flaming arrows.
This
delightful spectacle watched upon by a crowd of thousands
usually takes place every year in Leicester where a
high concentration of Asian people live; mostly Gujaratis
Hindus.
It
is believed that any new ventures started on this auspicious
day will be successful in the long run. And so ends
the glorious festivities surrounding this most significant
of Hindu religious festivals.
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