Here's a glimpse of how India celebrated the festival marking the triumph of good over evil.
As government-issued guidelines in many places banned large congregations and setting up of fairs or food stalls, the torching of effigies was restricted to very few venues than usual. The Ramleela Maidan at the iconic Red Fort where every year the Dussehra festivities are attended by dignitaries including the prime minister and the President apart from hundreds of common people, was deserted this time as the annual celebrations were cancelled.
A tragic train accident in Amritsar on Friday took a political turn with the Opposition accusing the state's Congress government for lapses in allowing celebrations near railway tracks.
Acting on the chief minister's directives, Rehabilitation Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria and Health Minister Brahm Mohindra have already rushed to Amritsar to supervise rescue and relief operations.
In a rare show of political camaraderie, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former PM Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi came together on one platform to celebrate Dussehra at the Subash Ground in New Delhi.
He said four weeks have been given to submit the report to find out who was at fault.
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