Mysore  : Devotees thronged the Mysore Palace in Karnataka on Thursdayto participate in the majestic celebrations of the Hindu festival ‘Dussehra’ .

A large number of people, including foreign tourists, thronged Mysore to participate in the festivities.

Artistes wearing different outfits performed traditional dance and entertained the crowd. The artistes also displayed numerous tableaux based on different themes.

Earlier this morning, King Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, scion of erstwhile Royal Family led the grand celebrations of Dussehra. The festivities included a unique wrestling competition and a procession of elephants, festooned with ornaments and precious gems.

The wrestling match often involves violence, since the fight between the two wrestlers continues until one bleeds. It is believed that the lost blood is an offering to goddess Chamundeshwari, the fierce form of Shakti (the strength), a tutelary deity admired by Mysore Kings for centuries.

Being the state festival, Dussehra is celebrated with religious fervour and enthusiasm.

The elephant march, along a five-kilometre route, depicts the province’s tradition and culture and forms an essential part of the revelries.

The procession, observed in the style of the erstwhile Kings, winds its way through the city’s streets and ends at the local palace.

After wrestling, the King goes for ‘Banni Puja’, which is the ritual of worshipping the Banni tree, planted within the premises of the Royal Temple.

Foreign nationals were seen participating in the grand event.

Dussehra is celebrated across the country to commemorate the victory of Lord Rama, who is considered as ‘Maryada Purushottam’ (the best among the dignified) over the ten-headed mythological demon king Ravana. The ten heads of Ravana depicts passion, pride, anger, greed, infatuation, lust, hatred, jealousy, selfishness and crookedness.

Rama’s victory over Ravana is depicted as the triumph of good over evil.