Ash-o-aaram

VIPs were busy dusting ash off their bodies at the Subhash Maidan Dusshera celebrations, while cranes were busy fixing effigy faces at the last moment

VIPs were busy dusting ash off their bodies at the Subhash Maidan Dusshera celebrations, while cranes were busy fixing effigy faces at the last momentu00a0

Dusshera dos in Delhi are as dramatic as they can get. At one such celebration in Subhash Maidan opposite Red Fort, VIPs turned up in full fervour only to be showered with ash-dust from the evil Ravana as the effigies burned.

Effigy of Ravana goes up in flame at Subhash Maidan

After a delayed entry into the grounds amid tight security, parking problems and traffic detour, Prime Minister Dr Manhomhan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi walked in, only to be welcomed by defaced larger-than-life demons that were being fixed by construction cranes and frantic workers.

Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel accompanying VIPs remove ash-dust off the stage pics/Rajeev Tyagi

A fond farewell: Devotees immerse an idol of Goddess Durga in river Yamuna in New Delhiu00a0 pic/Imtiyaz Khan

Later, when the moment of triumph arrived, Ravana's ashes flew over to the stage, as alert SPG guards quickly got to brushing it off.