Thousands cheered in sheer ecstasy amidst cries of Siyavar Ram chandra ki jai as the effigies went up in flames one after another, commemorating the victory of Lord Rama over the king of Lanka, who abducted the pious princess of Ayodhya, Sita while in exile.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who witnessed the re-enactment of the epic Ramayana at the Subhash Maidan said the ideal of Ram Rajya could be attained only after the lust for material benefits, symbolised by the golden city of Lanka, is conquered.

He said the monkeys and bears depicted in Ramayana were actually tribals with whose help only could Lanka be won. Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Chief Justice M M Punchhi, former first lady Vimla Sharma, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Lal Khurana and Rajya Sabha MP L M Singhvi were among the prominentdignitaries present on the occasion.

The Prime Minister and other dignitaries applied vermillion on the forehead of Lord Rama, before he aimed the final arrow at Ravana, blasting him to pieces.

Earlier, as dusk descended, the city skyline was illuminated with the colour and sparkle of dazzling fireworks displays at Ramlila venues across the city.

Sonia Gandhi also visited the popular Ramlila maidan. The day also marked the grand finale of the Durga puja festivities with devotees immersing the idols of the goddess in river Yamuna. Before bidding adieu, the deity was placed on the ground, where women fed her `sandesh' (a popular Bengali sweet) to her and applied sindoor (vermillon) on her forehead in the hope of receiving blessings.