Heavy rainfall on Thursday dampened Dussehra celebrations across Delhi, drenching effigies of Ravan. The downpour forced the cancellation of major events, including those meant for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
PM Modi was expected to attend the Raavan Dahan organized by the Indraprastha Ramleela Committee, but the sudden rain led to its cancellation. Committee president Suresh Bindal stated, “The prime minister could not attend due to the rain. The effigies were damaged but later set on fire in the presence of Union Minister Harsh Malhotra, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, MLA Arvinder Singh Lovely, and others.”
In a similar turn of events, Home Minister Amit Shah could not participate in the Keshav Ramleela Committee’s event at DDA Ground, Netaji Subhash Place, Pitampura. BJP national general secretary Arun Singh attended as chief guest for the effigy burning instead. Ashok Goyal Devaraha, the committee’s president, mentioned they would invite Shah again next year for the Dahan.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), by 5:30 pm, Pitampura recorded 17.5 mm of rainfall, Ridge 15.4 mm, and Mayur Vihar 9.5 mm. This rainfall caused challenges for event organizers across the city, as they struggled to keep the effigies dry.
Members of the Adarsh Ramleela Committee in Ashok Vihar expressed their woes, stating, “We tried to cover it with plastic, but most of it still got drenched. It seems Indra Dev wanted Ravan to drown rather than burn this year.”
At the Aryan Heritage Foundation in Pitampura, organizer Anil Garg reported, “Around 10% of the effigy got drenched despite plastic covers. There was waterlogging, but we hope the Dahan goes well.” The committee worked diligently to ensure the celebrations continued despite the unfortunate turn of weather.
Meanwhile, Nitin Gupta, treasurer of the Hanumant Dharmik Ramleela Committee in East Delhi, noted, “The rain came as a shock and delayed preparations. We are now using petrol and diesel to ensure the effigy catches fire.” His words encapsulate the spirit of perseverance among organizers trying to salvage the celebration amidst challenging circumstances.
While the weather thwarted plans for many leaders and committees, the local communities rallied to ensure that Dussehra traditions continued in their own ways. The spirit of the festival remained alive in the hearts of the people, reminding them of the resilience that festivities demand.
