Dist prepares for grand Dasehra celebrations, effigies to be burnt at more than 40 places

Ludhiana is all set to celebrate Dasehra with enthusiasm on Thursday.

Even on the eve of the festival, the district was abuzz with celebration spirit and residents flocked to fairs. Effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna will be installed in fair grounds across the area on Wednesday night.

The Dasehra celebrations will be held at over 40 places in the district and surroundings but grand celebrations will be held at six to eight places in the city only where residents attend the same in large numbers.

The organisers of the fairs are focused on ensuring a safe and memorable experience for all attendees, implementing enhanced security measures ahead of the burning of the effigies.

The Daresi ground where the Dasehra celebrations have been going on for several decades is expected to be a major draw, featuring a colossal 121-ft-tall Ravana effigy that promises to be the main highlight and it is the only one in the district which will be consigned to the flames by pressing a remote button.

President of Shri Ram Leela and Dasehra Committee, Daresi, Dinesh Marwaha said: “With large crowds expected, public safety is our primary concern. Besides the deployment of the local police, we’ve set up CCTV cameras throughout the ground and hired private security personnel. Our members will keep watch over miscreants through CCTV cameras.”

The towering effigy will be ignited via remote control around 5:30 pm. Marwaha said there would be special attractions this year, which will remain an enjoyable spectacle for the audience.

In Upkar Nagar, Shri Ram Leela and Dasehra Committee member Raju Thapar confirmed that a 58-ft-tall Ravana effigy will be put up tonight, with police officers maintaining an overnight presence for security. Even members of the committee will also remain present to ensure that no miscreants try to do any mischief.

“The schedule for Thursday includes a morning ritual where people will offer ‘khetri’ (a type of offering) to the effigies before the main event and the burning around 5:30 pm. However, the celebration is tinged with melancholy. Thapar revealed that this year’s event may be their last at the location due to a land dispute won by private claimants. Hence, Committee members are feeling a mix of enthusiasm and disappointment surrounding the festival.

Temples too hosting Dasehra events

Besides major grounds, several temple organisations are also hosting Dasehra events. ISKCON temple at the Janpath Estate will hold celebrations, featuring small episodes from Ramayana and then the effigy will be burnt around 6 pm. Raksha Nath Dass from the temple said there would be a kirtan on the temple premises for the entire day and in the evening, they would celebrate Dasehra. The management of Govind Godham will organise festivities in their temple complex. The Dasehra celebrations will also be held across numerous other neighbourhoods, including Focal Point, Aggar Nagar, Pavillion Chowk, Hambran Road, Jawala Singh Chowk Giaspura, Chandigarh Road, Noorwala Road, Dugri, Doraha, Sahnewal, Ladhowal and Sarabha Nagar.