In pictures: Dussehra celebrated across India as triumph of good over evil

Dussehra is being celebrated across India through public processions and performances featuring actors dressed as deities. The festivities present the festival’s traditional theme of the triumph of good over evil in highly visible community events.

Actors Bring Religious Stories to Public Celebrations

A notable part of the celebrations is the participation of performers who portray revered figures. Their roles add a theatrical element to the festival and help bring religious stories into public spaces.

In Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, an actor portraying Lord Ram was pictured preparing ahead of a procession. The image captures the preparation behind one of the festival’s ceremonial appearances, before the character joins the public event.

Processions Remain Central to the Festivities

The variety of celebrations reflects the different ways Dussehra is observed across India. Alongside religious meaning, the events involve preparation, performance and participation by local communities.

These public gatherings make the festival visible beyond individual observances, with actors portraying deities as part of the celebrations. The Prayagraj scene offers one example of how performers and processions contribute to Dussehra festivities.

A Festival Defined by Its Central Theme

Across the country, the celebrations are linked by Dussehra’s depiction of good prevailing over evil. While the forms of observance vary, the involvement of actors playing deities remains a prominent feature of the festival activities described here.

From preparations before a procession to the wider public celebration, the festival combines religious storytelling with community events in cities such as Prayagraj.