Heavy rainfall on Thursday significantly dampened Dussehra celebrations across Delhi, soaking effigies of Ravan and forcing the cancellation of major events that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were set to attend. The deluge disrupted festive plans throughout the national capital.
Scheduled to attend the Raavan Dahan hosted by the Indraprastha Ramleela Committee, PM Modi had to cancel his visit as rainfall soaked both the venue and the effigies. “The prime minister could not attend due to the rain. The effigies sustained damage but were later burnt with Union Minister Harsh Malhotra, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, and local MLA Arvinder Singh Lovely present,” clarified Suresh Bindal, the committee president.
Home Minister Amit Shah faced a similar fate, as he could not attend the Keshav Ramleela Committee’s event at DDA Ground, Netaji Subhash Place in Pitampura. The committee appointed BJP national general secretary Arun Singh as the chief guest for the effigy burning ceremony. Committee president Ashok Goyal Devaraha assured that they would extend an invitation to Shah for next year’s celebrations.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported varying rainfall totals, with Pitampura recording 17.5 mm, Ridge at 15.4 mm, and Mayur Vihar at 9.5 mm by 5:30 pm. Organisers throughout Delhi faced challenges in keeping the effigies dry amid the downpour.
Members of the Adarsh Ramleela Committee in Ashok Vihar expressed their frustration. They stated, “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 said, “Around 10% of the effigy got drenched despite the plastic covers. There was waterlogging, but we hope the Dahan goes well.”
Meanwhile, Nitin Gupta, treasurer of the Hanumant Dharmik Ramleela Committee in East Delhi, revealed that the rain disrupted their timeline. “The rain came as a shock and delayed preparations. We are now using petrol and diesel to ensure the effigy catches fire,” he stated, underscoring the extraordinary measures organisers must undertake to maintain tradition.
Despite the challenges, many remained hopeful for future celebrations. With the spirit of Dussehra rooted deeply in Indian culture, people expressed their determination to uphold the traditions, come rain or shine.