Dasehra: Effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran, Meghnadgo up in flames in Jalandhar

City residents turned out on streets in large numbers to enjoy Dasehra festival and witness the demon kings - Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad - go up in smoke at their nearest locations.

The celebrations were held at various venues but bigger events were held at the Sai Dass School ground, Ladowali Road, Adarsh Nagar and Burlton Park. Various resident welfare societies too had taken permission to light up the effigies in open spaces, including grounds and market areas. Crackers were burst to celebrate the victory of good over the evil.

At the Ladowali Road venue, Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi and District Congress Committee chief Rajinder Beri remained the key guests. The effigy of Ravana accidentally got lit up even before those of Meghnad and Kumbhkaran were torched. At the Sai Dass School grounds, ex-BJP minister Manoranjan Kalia was among those who delivered the speeches. Ex-BJP MLA KD Bhandari attended the programme of the RSS earlier in the day and later he was a part of the shobha yatras held ahead of the Dasehra mela.

The celebrations started in the afternoon as shobha yatras were taken out around various venues. Men and children played the roles of Ram, Laxman, Hanuman, Ravana and Rama's sena as they moved in elephant-driven chariots. There were melas held at the venues throughout where people had gathered in large numbers to take swings and enjoy eatables from the stalls put up there.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal, Commissioner of Police Dhanpreet Kaur, ADCPs Manpreet Dhillon and Naresh Dogra and other police and administrative officials visited multiple Dasehra venues of the city. Mayor Vaneet Dhir and minister Mohinder Bhagat was also among the key invitees at melas held in the city. As it started to become dark, the colourful lighting with which paths' entrance and exit had been created to the venues remained the highlight.

The celebrations of Dasehra got marred this morning as it rained for about 20 minutes in Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur. The gusty winds that accompanied the rain partly damaged the effigies and made these wet. An effigy at Jalandhar Cantt ground came off and fell on the people who had crowded around it and were taking selfies ahead of the start of the mela. The organisers had to call in experts bring them back in order.

Highlights

• Rain dampens Dasehra morning, effigies damaged by gusty winds

• MP Channi, minister Bhagat and top officials attend Dasehra events

• Effigy falls on crowd at Cantt Ground, organisers rush to restore order