New Delhi [India], October 6 : BJP MP Manoj Tiwari expressed happiness on being invited to enact the role of Lord Parashurama in the Ramlila performance held in the national capital on Saturday.
Speaking to ANI ahead of his performance, MP Tiwari said, "I support Ramlila and I am very happy that we are invited to these Ramlilas.Today I will be portraying Parashurama in the Ramlila."
"We will give a very important message today," Tiwari added.
Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu in Hinduism is described in epics as the angry Brahmin who uses his axe to kill a large number of warriors because they abused their power.
Navratri, which means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit, is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga and her nine avatars, known as Navdurga. Hindus observe four Navratris throughout the year, but only two--Chaitra Navratri and Shardiya Navratri--are widely celebrated, as they coincide with the changing of the seasons.
In India, Navratri is celebrated in various ways. In North India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, the Ramlila, a dramatic re-enactment of scenes from the Ramayana, is organised. The festival concludes with Vijayadashami, marked by the burning of King Ravana's effigies.
'Vijyayadashmi' or 'Dussehra', is celebrated to mark the triumph of good over evil. It is believed that Lord Rama killed Ravan on this day, and with this belief, the culture of burning the effigies of Ravan began.
Vijayadashmi marks the end of the five-day festivities of Durga Puja, and it also marks the culmination of the nine-day-long Navratri festival.