Ujjain : After nine days of Navratras celebrations throughout the city, the festival of Dussehra came to an end on Friday night with ‘Ravana Dahan.
With friends and family, Ujjainites attended Ravana Dahan across the city where artists enacted the final battle of Ramayana where Lord Ram kills Ravana and brings Sita back to Ayodhya. The celebrations began amidst tight security in the evening with a short Ramlila staged for the spectators at both venues. Soon the spectacular show of crackers began that electrified the atmosphere. Men, women and children watched in amazement dazzling fireworks lightening up the sky, as the giant size effigies crackled in the fire. The biggest shows, like in previous years, were at the historic Dussehra Maidan and Kartik Mela Ground, which dates back to the struggle of freedom period. People were jostling for space, stepping on each other’s toes to get a glimpse of the effigies. Dussehra is also an occasion when many non-Hindus join the celebrations, as most of the artisans involved in the erection of attractive pandals and the making of the giant size effigies are Muslims. Effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghanada worth lakh went up in smoke across the city during the Dussehra celebrations.
A total of three effigies of Ravana were set on fire across the city on Friday. The major attraction was the tallest Ravana at Dussehra Maidan by Dusshera Utsav Samiti that stood 101 feet tall. Second dahan was organised at Kartik Mela Ground by Vijayadashmi Utsav Samiti. The Dussehra celebrations in Dusehhra Maidan began with a procession with actors donning colourful attire. The effigies of Ravana, Meghanad and Kumbhkarna were set on fire by SP Anurag while collector Kavindra Kiyawat did the pujan. Organisers at Kartik Mela Ground also organised grand functions along with attractive fireworks Divisional Commissioner Ravindra Pastore and Ujjain Municipal Corporation Commissioner Avinash Lavania inaugurated the function in the presence of peoples’ representatives and social workers. Third Ravana Dahan programme was organised at Unhel Road Square under the aegis of Shri Ram Navyuvak Mandal. Several peoples’ representatives and saints were present on the occasion.
Ravana Dahan at three places today
Ravana dahan (burning effigy) will be organised at two places here on Saturday. Like previous years, the Ravana Dahan programme will be organised at Shastri Nagar Ground at 7 pm under the leadership of District Congress Committee (rural) president Jai Singh Darbar. Members of Siddhvat Yuva Manch, Bhairavgarh informed that a 101 feet long effigy of demon king Ravana will be set ablaze at Siddhvat Maidan. Manch president Raghvendra Chaturvedi and secretaries Rajendra Bharti and Deepak Nagdeo informed that special hour-long fireworks have been organised for the day and fireworks experts from Rau, Indore will perform the fireworks. Lakhan Kahar is the lead artist in making the effigy. Likewise, Ankpaat Ravana Dahan Samiti has also organised Ravana Dahan at Ankpaat. 101 feet long effigy will go up in flames at 7.30 pm. Office bearers informed that the ceremony is being organised for over 100 years and has got administrative recognition. Mahesh Das, Ashok Prajapat, Sonu Gehlot, Jitendra Yadav, Vijay Patel were present on the occasion.
