By IANS
Srinagar : A towering effigy of demon king Ravana was set afire followed by bursting of crackers as Kashmiri Pandits celebrated the popular festival of Dussehra in this summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir after a gap of full 20 years.
The Kashmiri Pandit Sagharsh Samiti (KPSS), an organization of the Kashmiri Pandits, this year restarted the celebration of the popular festival in Kashmir as per the “age-old tradition”.
The celebrations were held at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium here.
The Dussehra festival last held in Kashmir at the Iqbal Park here was in 1987.
The annual festival marks Hindu lord Ram’s victory over Ravana, symbolising the triumph of good over evil.
In a statement the KPSS said, “The Kashmiri Pandits living in the valley have been totally ignored by the world community and that is why to show our presence we decided to start the age-old traditions and religious functions to mark our presence under the banner of KPSS.
“We are thankful to the majority community for their support, cooperation and participation which they are giving us for the past 15 years.”
Some Pandit families from Jammu also joined the celebrations here.