Apparently referring to the scourge of terrorism the country is faced with, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Sunday chose the occasion of Dussehra to assert that 'violence of the demons' will end.

Addressing a Ram Lila function in Delhi, he emphasised that 'noble person' Lord Rama had demonstrated how to remain firm even when faced with difficulties and attain victory in the end.

"Lord Rama has showed that even if Rakshas' violence increases, it has to end at last," Vajpayee said at the programme witnessed by Congress pSonia Gandhi, Delhi

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul, and Delhi BJP chief Madan Lal Khurana.

"In the end, evil has to get defeated and it gets defeated," the prime minister asserted. The Ram Lila festival, he added, sent out a message of 'unity, harmony and victory of good over evil'.

Vajpayee said the Ram Lila festival had lately become an international celebration with Ram 'kathas' (discourses) being organised in several neighbouring countries.

"Lord Rama is an avatar," he said, and pointed out the day is celebrated with fervour and enthusiasm by all the countrymen.

After his speech, Vajpayee and Gandhi set a pigeon each free into the air symbolising the tryst with peace.

They also released a bunch of tri-colored balloons.

As dusk set in, huge effigies of symbols of evil -- Ravana, Kumbakaran and Meghnath -- burst into flames marking victory of good over evil in front of an euphoric gathering, which displayed excitement by cheering and shouting.

Earlier, Vajpayee and Gandhi performed symbolic 'arti' (prayer) before three children enacting as Lord Rama, Lakshman and Hanuman.

A host of foreigners, particularly those from the missions, also witnessed the impressive function held under immense security arrangements.

Roads in the periphery of the venue opposite the historic Red Fort had been closed to public two hours ahead of the scheduled arrival of the prime minister and Sonia Gandhi and hundreds of gun-totting policemen kept a sharp vigil.