Heavy rainfall on Thursday disrupted Dussehra celebrations across Delhi, forcing the cancellation of several major events including those scheduled to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The downpour damaged effigies of Ravan, impacting festive proceedings across the national capital.
PM Modi was set to join the Raavan Dahan organised by the Indraprastha Ramleela Committee. However, the unforeseen rain led to the cancellation of this highly anticipated event. “The prime minister could not attend due to the rain. The effigies were damaged, but later set on fire in the presence of Union Minister Harsh Malhotra, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, MLA Arvinder Singh Lovely, and others,” stated Suresh Bindal, president of the committee.
In a similar vein, Amit Shah could not participate in the Keshav Ramleela Committee’s event at DDA Ground, Netaji Subhash Place, Pitampura. Instead, BJP national general secretary Arun Singh stepped in as the chief guest for the effigy burning ceremony. The committee’s president Ashok Goyal Devaraha expressed hopes of inviting Shah to perform this vital ritual next year.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported significant rainfall across various regions in Delhi. By 5:30 PM, Pitampura recorded 17.5 mm of rain, along with 15.4 mm at Ridge and 9.5 mm in Mayur Vihar.
Amid the downpour, event organisers across the capital faced challenges in keeping the effigies dry. Members of the Adarsh Ramleela Committee in Ashok Vihar remarked, “We tried to cover it with plastic, but most still got drenched. It seems Indra Dev wanted Ravan to drown rather than burn this year.”
At the Aryan Heritage Foundation in Pitampura, organiser Anil Garg stated, “Around 10% of the effigy got soaked despite plastic covers. There was waterlogging, but we hope the Dahan goes well.” The commitment to maintain the tradition of effigy burning remains strong despite weather obstacles.
In East Delhi, Nitin Gupta, treasurer of the Hanumant Dharmik Ramleela Committee, noted the unexpected rain as a setback. He shared, “The rain came as a shock and delayed preparations. We are now using petrol and diesel to ensure the effigy catches fire.” This reflects the determination of Delhi’s Ramleela committees to uphold Dussehra traditions, regardless of weather woes.
As the Dussehra festivities faced disruptions, many attendees expressed disappointment yet understanding. The combination of cultural heritage and unpredictable weather continues to shape the way Delhi celebrates this festival.
