Prepare Dasehra ground, surroundings for festivities, MLA Gupta tells MC officials

With the onset of the festive season, special preparations have begun at the Dasehra ground near Durgiana Mandir here. On Sunday, MLA Dr Ajay Gupta inspected the ground along with officials of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation to review the cleanliness and improvement works.

Dr Gupta said his visit followed the directions of Shri Durgiana Mandir Committee president Laxmi Kanta Chawla, who emphasised the need for better arrangements ahead of the Navratri, beginning tomorrow, and the upcoming Dasehra festival.

“Every year, thousands of people gather at this ground to witness the burning of the effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhkaran. It is one of the biggest cultural and religious gatherings of Amritsar, and therefore, the venue must be in a proper condition,” he said.

The MLA instructed officials to level the ground completely with the help of machinery and remove stray animals from the area. He laid stress on the importance of maintaining hygiene around Durgiana Mandir during the nine days of Navratri, directing that cleaning be carried out at least three times daily.

“Cleanliness and proper arrangements are the responsibility of the administration and I appeal to all departments to work in coordination to ensure a smooth festive season,” Dr Gupta said.

The municipal corporation has already started work to improve the ground and strengthen sanitation arrangements. Assistant Commissioner Vishal Wadhawan and Superintendent Engineer Sandeep Singh assured that the work would be completed on time. Officials from the Durgiana Committee, including Dr Rakesh Sharma and Dr Saransh Gupta, also joined the inspection.

The Dasehra festival holds special significance in the city. Apart from being a celebration of the victory of good over evil, the festival here is linked with religious devotion, as the Dasehra ground lies next to Shri Durgiana Mandir, one of the city’s most revered shrines. Thousands of devotees and families from the city and surrounding districts visit the venue, making it not just a local event but a symbol of the city’s shared cultural and spiritual identity.