Heavy rainfall on Thursday disrupted Dussehra celebrations in Delhi, leading to the cancellation of significant events, including those planned with attendance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The downpour not only drenched effigies of Ravan but also forced various organizers to abandon their plans.
Prime Minister Modi was set to attend the Raavan Dahan event organized by the Indraprastha Ramleela Committee. However, the sudden rain led to the event’s cancellation. Suresh Bindal, president of the Ramleela committee, remarked, “The prime minister could not attend due to the rain. The effigies were damaged, but they were later set ablaze 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 make it to the Keshav Ramleela Committee’s event at DDA Ground, Netaji Subhash Place, in Pitampura. Instead, BJP national general secretary Arun Singh represented the minister as the chief guest for the effigy burning ceremony. The committee’s president Ashok Goyal Devaraha mentioned they would invite Shah again next year to perform the Dahan.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported significant rainfall across Delhi. As of 5:30 pm, Pitampura recorded 17.5 mm of rain, while Ridge received 15.4 mm, and Mayur Vihar saw 9.5 mm. This heavy downpour further complicated preparations for Dussehra celebrations.
Organizers from various committees faced challenges in keeping the effigies dry. Members of the Adarsh Ramleela Committee in Ashok Vihar revealed, “We tried to cover the effigy with plastic, but most of it still got drenched. It seems Indra Dev wanted Ravan to drown rather than burn this year.”
At the venue of the Aryan Heritage Foundation in Pitampura, organizer Anil Garg said, “Around 10% of the effigy got drenched despite plastic covers. There was waterlogging, but we hope the Dahan goes well.”
The rain also caused delays in the preparations for effigy burning at other venues. Nitin Gupta, treasurer of the Hanumant Dharmik Ramleela Committee in East Delhi, expressed his concerns: “The rain came as a shock and delayed our preparations. We are now using petrol and diesel to ensure the effigy catches fire.”
This year’s Dussehra festivities remind us how unpredictable weather can impact traditional events. As many look forward to celebrating victories of good over evil, the absence of key political figures, coupled with rain-soaked celebrations, shaped a unique experience this year.
