Heavy rainfall on Thursday dampened Dussehra celebrations across the national capital. The rain drenched effigies of Ravan and forced the cancellation of several major events, including those slated to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
PM Modi was scheduled to attend the Raavan Dahan organised by the Indraprastha Ramleela Committee. However, the sudden downpour led to its cancellation. Committee president Suresh Bindal shared, “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.”
Similarly, Amit Shah was unable to participate in the Keshav Ramleela Committee’s event at DDA Ground, Netaji Subhash Place, Pitampura. BJP national general secretary Arun Singh stepped in as chief guest for the effigy burning. Ashok Goyal Devaraha, president of the committee, confirmed their commitment to invite Shah again next year to perform the Dahan.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported significant rainfall across Delhi. By 5:30 PM, Pitampura recorded 17.5 mm of rainfall, Ridge 15.4 mm, and Mayur Vihar 9.5 mm.
Event organisers across Delhi faced significant challenges in keeping the effigies dry. Members of the Adarsh Ramleela Committee in Ashok Vihar lamented, “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, organiser Anil Garg reported, “Around 10% of the effigy got drenched despite plastic covers. There was waterlogging, but we hope the Dahan goes well.” The enthusiasm surrounding the celebration was tempered by the unexpected weather.
Nitin Gupta, treasurer of the Hanumant Dharmik Ramleela Committee in East Delhi, expressed frustration, declaring, “The rain came as a shock and delayed preparations. We are now using petrol and diesel to ensure the effigy catches fire.” Organisers showed resilience in adapting to the adverse weather conditions.
Despite the challenges brought by rain, the spirit of Dussehra remains alive in the hearts of Delhiites. This festival, which symbolizes the victory of good over evil, continues to hold significance for residents.
