Festivals in India

Around 96,000 electric bulbs illuminate the Mysore Palace as part of celebrations on the last day of the Dusshera festival in Mysore, India, Monday, Sept. 28, 2009. According to Hindu mythology, the festival celebrates the slaying of the demon Mahishasura by the Goddess Chamundeeswari, or Durga, and the triumph of good over evil.

People watch a procession as they sit on a hoarding frame on the last day of Dusshera celebrations in Mysore, India, Monday, Sept. 28, 2009. According to Hindu mythology, the festival celebrates the slaying of the demon Mahishasura by the Goddess Chamundeeswari, or Durga, and the triumph of good over evil.

A mahout rides a decorated elephant during a procession on the last day of Dusshera celebrations in Mysore, India, Monday, Sept. 28, 2009. According to Hindu mythology, the festival celebrates the slaying of the demon Mahishasura by the Goddess Chamundeeswari, or Durga, and the triumph of good over evil.

Indian artists perform on the last day of Dusshera celebrations in Mysore, India, Monday, Sept. 28, 2009. According to Hindu mythology, the festival celebrates the slaying of the demon Mahishasura by the Goddess Chamundeeswari, or Durga, and the triumph of good over evil.

A band performs as an idol of Hindu goddess Chamundeeswari, placed in a gold howdah atop an elephant, passes by the Mysore Palace on the last day of Dusshera celebrations in Mysore, India, Monday, Sept. 28, 2009. According to Hindu mythology, the festival celebrates the slaying of the demon Mahishasura by the Goddess Chamundeeswari, or Durga, and the triumph of good over evil.

Mahouts ride decorated elephants as they pass by the Mysore Palace on the last day of Dusshera celebrations in Mysore, India, Monday, Sept. 28, 2009. According to Hindu mythology the festival celebrates the slaying of the demon Mahishasura by the Goddess Chamundeeswari, or Durga, and the triumph of good over evil.

A devotee dances before an idol of Hindu goddess Durga before its immersion in the Yamuna river in New Delhi, India, Monday, Sept. 28, 2009.

Idols of the goddess Durga are carried for immersion, marking the end of Durga Puja festival, in Allahabad, India, Monday, Sept. 28, 2009. Seen as the mother of the universe, Durga is worshipped for her graciousness as well as her fearsome power.

An idol of the Hindu goddess Durga is seen on the last day of Durga Puja festival in Bhubaneswar, India, Monday, Sept. 28, 2009. Seen as the mother of the universe, Durga is worshipped for her graciousness as well as her fearsome power.

Women participate in a procession carrying urns on their heads as they proceed to a Hindu temple to mark the end of a nine-day festival, in New Delhi, India, Monday, Sept. 28, 2009.

An artist wearing a mask of the demon king Ravana waits to perform at a Ramleela, a performance based on the Hindu epic "Ramayana," as part of a festival in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009. Monday marks the culmination of the Durga Puja and Navaratri festivities.

Hindu devotees perform rituals inside a "pandal," or a temporary structure set up to worship Hindu goddess of valor Durga, during the Durga Puja festival in Allahabad, India, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. Seen as the mother of the universe, Durga is worshipped for her graciousness as well as her fearsome power.

Indian artists dressed as Hindu gods Rama, front left, and Laxman, behind, look on from a tableau during a procession ahead of the Dussehra festival in Allahabad, India, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009. Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, the day the Hindu god Rama killed the demon King Ravana, was celebrated on Sept. 28. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil.

An Indian artist dressed as the Hindu monkey god Hanuman looks on from a tableau during a procession ahead of the Dussehra festival in Allahabad, India, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009.

An Indian artist, dressed as the Hindu goddess of valor Durga, looks on as she enacts a scene from "Ashtami," or the eighth day of the Hindu mythology, during Dussehra processions in Allahabad, India, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. Durga Ashtami is the most important day of Durga Puja. It commemorates Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura.

A priest performs rituals in front of the Hindu goddess of valor, Durga, in Calcutta, India, Friday, Sept. 25, 2009.

Hindu devotees perform rituals during the Durga Puja festival in Allahabad, India, Friday, Sept. 25, 2009.

Hindu devotees perform rituals in front of an idol of Hindu goddess of valor Durga during the Durga Puja festival in Allahabad, India, Friday, Sept. 25, 2009.

A makeshift worship venue of the Hindu goddess Durga is seen illuminated in Calcutta, India, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009.

A boy walks past effigies of the 10-headed demon God Ravan, prepared for the upcoming Dussehra festival in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009. Effigies of Ravana, who had abducted Hindu god Rama's wife, are burnt on the last day of Dussehra, commemorating the victory of good over evil.

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