Dussehra 2018 photos: How India celebrates the triumph of good over evil

Vijayadashami or Dussehra marks the end of Navratri, and also Durga Puja. Towering effigies of Ravana, symbolizing evil, are burnt with fireworks marking evil's destruction. The festival also starts the preparation for one of the most important and widely celebrated festivals, Diwali, which is celebrated twenty days after the Vijayadashami.

Here are a few photos:

Effigies of Ravana are being burnt, marking the end of Navratri festival

Young Indian artists dressed as Hindu deities Radha, right and Krishna, left, participate in a Dussehra procession

Hindu women dressed in colorful festive sarees rest after participating in a procession as part of Ganga Dussehra festival

An Indian artist dressed as Hindu monkey god Hanuman stands near a burning effigy of Lanka, the abode of demon king Ravana, during Dussehra festivities

Workers prepare to erect an effigy of demon King Ravana, ahead of the Dussehra festival

An artist in the role of demon king Ravana performs the traditional Ramleela drama, narrating the life of Hindu God Rama, on stage during celebrations to mark Dussehra festival 

An Indian man applies makeup on an artist dressing up as Hindu god Rama ahead of a religious procession during the Dussehra festival 

An Indian artist dressed as Hindu Goddess Kali performs participates in a procession as part of Dussehra festival celebrations

An effigy of Ravana stands as one of his brothers burns during Dussehra festivities