Heavy rainfall on Thursday dampened Dussehra celebrations across Delhi, disrupting anticipated events attended by leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The downpour soaked effigies of Ravan, prompting significant cancellations and logistical challenges for organizers.
The Raavan Dahan ceremony, organized by the Indraprastha Ramleela Committee, was set to showcase a traditional effigy burning. However, due to the unrelenting rain, PM Modi could not attend. 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, and MLA Arvinder Singh Lovely.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah was unable to attend the Keshav Ramleela Committee’s event at DDA Ground, Netaji Subhash Place, Pitampura. Instead, BJP national general secretary Arun Singh stepped in as the chief guest for the effigy burning. President Ashok Goyal Devaraha remarked that they would extend an invitation to Shah again for the event next year.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported significant rainfall across the capital, measuring 17.5 mm in Pitampura, 15.4 mm at the Ridge, and 9.5 mm in Mayur Vihar as of 5:30 pm.
Event organizers in different areas faced challenges in keeping the effigies dry from the torrential rain. The Adarsh Ramleela Committee in Ashok Vihar shared their struggles. One member said, “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 reflected on the impact of the weather, stating, “Around 10% of the effigy got drenched despite plastic covers. There was waterlogging, but we hope the Dahan goes well.”
Over in East Delhi, Nitin Gupta, treasurer of the Hanumant Dharmik Ramleela Committee, described the confusion caused by the rain. He said, “The rain came as a shock and delayed preparations. We are now using petrol and diesel to ensure the effigy catches fire.”
The festive spirit of Dussehra, which symbolizes the victory of good over evil, encountered an unexpected obstacle this year. In addition to logistical setbacks, many attendees expressed disappointment at the absence of key political figures who traditionally grace the Dussehra celebrations.
Despite the disruptions, organizers remained hopeful that the effigy burnings would proceed successfully later in the evening. They aimed to uphold the spirit of the festival, fostering a sense of unity amid the challenges posed by the weather. The continuous rains served as a reminder of nature’s unpredictability but could not fully extinguish the celebration’s inherent joy and communal spirit.
