President Murmu, PM Modi Attend Dussehra Celebrations

Pradhan, the Lok Sabha MP from Sambalpur, witnessed the burning of effigies of demon king Ravana, during the “Ravan Dahan” programme at Ainthapali here this evening.

ସମ୍ବଲପୁରର ଅଇଁଠାପାଲି ଠାରେ 'ରାବଣ ପୋଡ଼ି ଉତ୍ସବ - ୨୦୨୪'ରେ ଯୋଗଦେଲି । ଆମର ପର୍ବ ପର୍ବାଣୀ ଗୁଡ଼ିକ ଆମର ପରିଚୟ । ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା ସାମାଜିକ ସମରସତାର ଅନନ୍ୟ ବିଭବ । ଆସୁରିକ ଶକ୍ତି ଉପରେ ଦିବ୍ୟଶକ୍ତି ; ଅଧର୍ମ ଉପରେ ଧର୍ମର ବିଜୟ ଏବଂ ଅସତ୍ୟ ଉପରେ ସତ୍ୟର ବିଜୟର ପ୍ରତୀକ । pic.twitter.com/NDOyqG0Mdz — Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) October 12, 2024

The Union Minister was also seen symbolically performing Ravan Dahan (burning of effigies of demon King Ravan) by shooting an arrow from a bow.

Prior to the Ravan Dahan, Pradhan applied 'tilak' on the forehead of the artists enacting the roles of Lord Ram, Lakshman and Hanuman.

“Ravan Dahan signifies the victory of good over evil,” Pradhan said.

Earlier in the day, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited several Puja Mandaps in Jharsuguda and offered prayers to Maa Durga.

Pradhan along with Jharsuguda MLA Tankadhar Tripathy and some senior BJP leaders visited the Durga Puja pandals at Sukrabazar, Jhandachhak,  etc. at the district headquarters town.

The famous Durga Puja is celebrated in Odisha and different parts of the country as a victory of good over evil and Maa Durga is considered as a symbol of shakti.

Thousands of people attended the “Ravan Dahan” prgramme here today.

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Titled 'Unleashed', Johnson's account of his time in politics has been labelled by the publisher as a book that shatters the mould of the modern prime ministerial memoir as it is written in the journalist-turned-politician's inimitable style.

Devoting a full chapter on the India-UK relationship in his book, Johnson recalls significant meetings with PM Modi, in New Delhi and London, from his time as the Mayor of London to the UK Prime Minister.

Recalling their first meeting in 2012, which took place by the river Thames, Johnson said that he felt PM Modi's "curious astral energy" as he held his arm and raised it in front of a crowd of Indian supporters.

Johnson, who had two terms as London's Mayor, then went on to describe the Indian PM as the "change-maker" that India-UK relationship needs.

"With Modi, I felt sure, we could not only do a great Free-Trade deal but also build a long-term partnership, as friends and equals," he writes in the memoir.

In the book, Johnson also recalls the "tremendous success" of his first visit to India as the Prime Minister of UK in April 2022 when he first landed in Ahmedabad and visited Sabarmati Ashram.

The visit, Johnson writes in the book, boosted his morale and proved to be "balm for the soul" considering the tumultuous political scene back home.

While the Joint Statement released after the meeting between the two leaders at the Hyderabad House on April 22, 2022, mentioned "in strongest terms" their concern about the ongoing conflict and humanitarian situation in Ukraine, Johnson writes in his book that he wanted India to have a rethink on its relations with Russia.

“... I wondered if it was not time for a modulation, a rethink. As I was to put it to the Indians, Russian missiles were turning out to be less accurate, statistically, than my first serve at tennis. Did they really want to keep Russia as their main supplier of military hardware?" he writes in his unrestrained style. (IANS) 

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President Murmu and PM Modi applied 'tilak' on the foreheads of artists enacting the roles of Lord Ram, Lakshman, and Hanuman.

Effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna were burnt at Madhav Das Park as part of Dussehra celebrations in the presence of of the two leaders.

President Murmu and PM Modi earlier extended their greetings to people on the occasion of Vijayadashami.

"On the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami, I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all the countrymen. This is the festival of the victory of justice over injustice. This festival is a symbol of our belief in the values of truth and morality," President Murmu said in a post on X.

"On this auspicious occasion, we should take a pledge that we will take the side of justice even in the most difficult situations. I wish that this holy festival brings happiness and prosperity in everyone's life and our country always moves forward on the path of development," she added.

"Best wishes to the countrymen on Vijayadashami. With the blessings of Maa Durga and Lord Shri Ram, I wish that all of you achieve victory in every sphere of life," PM Modi said in a post on X.

Vijayadashami, or Dussehra, is a prominent Hindu festival celebrated every year at the end of Navaratri.

It is observed on the tenth day of the month of Ashvin, the seventh in the Hindu Luni-Solar Calendar. The festival typically falls in the Gregorian calendar months of September and October.

The festival also marks the preparations for Diwali, the important festival of lights, which is celebrated twenty days after Vijayadashami.(ANI)

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