The sparks fly as revellers enjoy Dusherra festival

FLAMES lit the stormy skies last night as three giant demon effigies were burned to mark the Dusherra cultural festival.

Several thousand people gathered on Calton Hill to see Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna and son Meghnad engulfed by flames at the end of the evening.

The effigies were constructed by female inmates at HMP Edinburgh. Other highlights in the run-up to the fire show included a homage to Mahatma Gandhi, whose birthday is celebrated on October 2, with belly dancing from Twisted Tails and Dance Ihayami, Edinburgh’s classical Indian dance school.