Throughout India at the weekend, millions of people jammed the streets of major towns and villages alike to watch the colourful processions which marked the end of the Dussehra festival. The biggest parade was in New Delhi.

The procession depicted scenes from the story of Rama - the triumph of good over evil. According to the story, Rama defeated the demon King Ravana and his two aides to rescue his kidnapped bride, the beautiful Sita.

The drama of the story is also spun out in nightly instalments before entralled crowds who never tire of Rama's life-or-death battle with the 10-headed demon king.

Huge bamboo and paper images of king Ravana and his assistants dominate the Dussehra festival's final day. Towering 110-feet above the ground, they are packed with fireworks for the final episode of the story.

According to the legend, Rama's final weapon is a fire-tipped magic shaft which he hurls at his enemy. In a crescendo of fireworks, the effigies of Ravana and his henchmen explode and begin toppling to the ground as the crowd roars its approval. And in thousands of towns and villages throughout India, lesser Ravanas meet the same fiery end.