Dehradun/Almora: Dussehra festival is celebrated every year to convey the message of the victory of truth over falsehood and the victory of good over evil. During this time, the effigies of the arrogant Ravana and his brothers are burnt. Preparations for Dussehra have also been completed at the historic parade ground in Dehradun. Since the time of the country’s independence, i.e. since 1947, the Bannu fraternity Dussehra Committee has been organizing the Dussehra festival in Dehradun.
121 feet high Ravana will burn in the parade ground: Let us tell you that the 78th Dussehra festival has been organized this year by the Bannu fraternity Dussehra Committee. Under which this time 121 feet high Ravana and 70 feet high Kumbhkaran and 75 feet high Meghnad have been installed in the Dehradun Parade Ground. In such a situation, on Dussehra festival, i.e. on October 2, the message of victory of good over evil will be given by burning Ravana. The preparations for which have been completed in the parade ground.
Separate arrangements for VVIPs and VIPs: The parade ground has been blessed for security reasons. Also, separate arrangements have been made for VVIPs and VIPs. Ever since the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad were installed in the parade ground, people have been showing a lot of enthusiasm. People are enjoying by reaching the ground with their entire family.
At the same time, in a conversation with ETV India, Santokh Nagpal, chairman of the Bannu fraternity Dussehra committee, said that they have been organizing the Dussehra festival for the last 78 years. In such a situation, this year the 78th Dussehra festival has been organized at the parade ground. The special thing this time is that the effigies of Ravana have been made 121 feet high, Kumbhkaran and Meghnath’s effigies have been made 70 and 75 feet high.
Punjab’s pipe band, Nashik’s drum and Shiv procession will be special: He said that earlier the height of the effigies was up to 60 feet, but this time the Ravana of 121 feet has been made. A meeting has been held with the administration regarding the arrangements. This time, various events are to be organized including Punjab’s pipe band, Nashik’s drum and Lord Shiva’s procession.
Traffic will not be disrupted from the procession this time: Traffic will not be disrupted by the procession to be taken out by the Dussehra Committee. Because, the procession will leave from the left side and the volunteers of the Traffic Committee will work with the police to help keep the traffic smooth. At the same time, the police force has been deployed to keep an eye on anti-social elements.
The festival of Vijayadashmi symbolizes the victory of religion over lawlessness and truth over falsehood. This festival also inspires all of us to walk on the path of virtue in life by abandoning the evils within us. What is needed today is that we walk on the path of truth free from arrogance in our lives and work together for the social harmony of the state and the country. Make life meaningful by assimilating the teachings of Lord Shri Ram.”- Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister, Uttarakhand
Dussehra festival in Almora: The Dussehra festival of Almora, the cultural city of Uttarakhand, is famous throughout the country. Foreign tourists, including from different parts of the country, also come here to see this Dussehra. The giant effigies of the Ravana family, which are made in the neighborhoods of Almora in Ramlila, are the center of attraction for the people. Where these effigies of the Ravana family are made by local artists.
People from both Hindu and Muslim communities participate in Dussehra. Which is also a symbol of harmony. The first Kumauni Ramlila of Kumaon was held in 1860 at the Badreshwar temple in Almora Nagar. It is believed that after this, the effigy of Ravana began to be made in Almora from Dussehra of 1865.
It takes about a month to make effigies: these effigies start a month before Dussehra. Initially, only the effigies of Ravana were made in the city, but today more than a dozen effigies of the Ravana family are made here. There is a lot of enthusiasm among people to see it.
An effigy of Akshay Kumar of the Ravan family has been made in the factory market. Himanshu Gupta, a local artist who made the effigy, said that the production of this effigy was started by Uday Lal Shah in 1984. It has been 40 years since they made this effigy.
This time the construction of the effigy started from July. The effigy has been made of waste material. Himanshu Gupta said that he too had learned the art of making this effigy from the elders. The culture of Almora is that he is currently working as an art teacher.
The child made an effigy of small pollution from pocket money: Be it Ramlila in Almora or the construction of effigies of the Ravana family, children are very excited about it. In Almora, music, drama and art are being transferred from generation to generation. An example of this is that an effigy of pollution is being made in the police station market of Almora.
At the same time, Lucky Bhatt, a child of the area, has created a single small pollution by putting his pocket money for this Dussehra. Which people are admiring. Lucky Bhatt said that he used to see older people making effigies and used to cooperate in it. After which he also thought of making an effigy and made an effigy with his pocket money. Which will be displayed in the Dussehra festival and burnt.
