Heavy rainfall on Thursday disrupted Dussehra celebrations across Delhi, impacting significant events as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were unable to attend. The downpour affected the ceremonial burning of effigies, which is a highlight of the festival.
PM Modi was set to grace the Raavan Dahan ceremony organized by the Indraprastha Ramleela Committee. However, rain caused the cancellation of the event. Committee president Suresh Bindal commented, “The prime minister could not attend due to the rain. The effigies were damaged but were eventually set ablaze in the presence of Union Minister Harsh Malhotra, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, and MLA Arvinder Singh Lovely.
Home Minister Amit Shah also missed the ceremonies at the Keshav Ramleela Committee’s event held at the DDA Ground in Netaji Subhash Place, Pitampura. BJP national general secretary Arun Singh represented Shah as the event’s chief guest for the effigy burning. Committee president Ashok Goyal Devaraha expressed hope to invite Shah next year to perform the Dahan.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported considerable downpour, with Pitampura recording 17.5 mm of rain, Ridge at 15.4 mm, and Mayur Vihar 9.5 mm until 5:30 PM. The heavy rains prompted challenges in preserving effigies for various organisers across the city.
Organizers faced difficulties in keeping effigies dry, particularly at the Adarsh Ramleela Committee in Ashok Vihar. Members reported, “We tried to cover them with plastic, but most of it still got drenched. It seems Indra Dev wanted Ravan to drown rather than burn this year.”
At the Pitampura venue managed by the Aryan Heritage Foundation, organiser Anil Garg explained, “Around 10% of the effigy got drenched despite our efforts with plastic covers. There was waterlogging, but we hope the Dahan goes well.”
Meanwhile, Nitin Gupta, treasurer of the Hanumant Dharmik Ramleela Committee in East Delhi, said, “The rain came as a shock and delayed our preparations. We are now using petrol and diesel to ensure that the effigy catches fire.” Such last-minute adjustments reflect the unpredictability of weather, which caused considerable inconvenience to the various committees.
This year, the traditional Dussehra celebrations took a hit from nature, showcasing how unpredictable weather can dramatically alter cultural festivities in the capital. The annual festival forms a vital part of the city’s cultural heritage, bringing together families and communities to witness the spectacular burning of Ravan’s effigy.
