Heavy rainfall on Thursday disrupted Dussehra celebrations across Delhi, leading to the cancellation of significant events that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were slated to attend. The rain dampened spirits, forcing organizers to adapt in real-time.
Prime Minister Modi was set to participate in the Raavan Dahan organized by the Indraprastha Ramleela Committee. However, the unforeseen downpour led to the event’s cancellation. Suresh Bindal, president of the committee, stated, “The prime minister could not attend due to the rain. Although the effigies were damaged, we managed to burn them later in the presence of Union Minister Harsh Malhotra, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, and MLA Arvinder Singh Lovely.
Similarly, Home Minister Amit Shah could not attend the Keshav Ramleela Committee’s event which took place 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, the committee’s president, expressed hopes to invite Shah for the Dahan next year.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported significant rainfall across parts of Delhi, including 17.5 mm in Pitampura, 15.4 mm in Ridge, and 9.5 mm in Mayur Vihar by 5:30 pm. This unprecedented weather severely impacted the usual Dussehra festivities.
Organizers throughout the national capital faced challenges in protecting the effigies from the deluge. The Adarsh Ramleela Committee in Ashok Vihar struggled to shield their effigies. As one committee member 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, organizer Anil Garg noted, “Around 10% of the effigy got drenched despite plastic covers. There was waterlogging, but we hope the Dahan goes well.” This reflected the persistent difficulty faced by caretakers to proceed with the rituals amidst heavy showers.
Nitin Gupta, treasurer of the Hanumant Dharmik Ramleela Committee in East Delhi, explained the urgency prompted by the rain, stating, “The rain came as a shock and delayed preparations. We are now using petrol and diesel to ensure the effigy catches fire.” These adaptations underlined the spirit and resilience of the communities amidst adversity.
Despite heavy rainfall affecting Dussehra events across Delhi, organizers exhibited determination to carry on with the age-old tradition. The day marks the victory of good over evil as signified by the burning of Ravan’s effigy, and it appears that participants will continue to celebrate its significance until the last ember fades.
As heavy rains played spoilsport, many residents expressed disappointment but underscored the importance of cultural heritage. The community displayed an unwavering spirit, with dedicated organizational efforts to ensure their celebrations continued, albeit adjusted. Such occurrences serve as reminders of nature’s unpredictability while showcasing community dynamics during festive seasons.
