Heavy rainfall on Thursday dampened Dussehra celebrations across the national capital, drenching effigies of Ravan and forcing the cancellation of several major events, including those slated to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
PM Modi was scheduled to attend the Raavan Dahan organized by the Indraprastha Ramleela Committee, but the sudden downpour led to its cancellation. “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,” said Suresh Bindal, committee president.
Similarly, Amit Shah was unable to participate in the Keshav Ramleela Committee’s event at the DDA Ground, Netaji Subhash Place, Pitampura. Instead, BJP national general secretary Arun Singh attended as chief guest for the effigy burning. The committee’s president Ashok Goyal Devaraha promised to extend an invitation to Shah next year to perform the Dahan.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Pitampura recorded 17.5 mm of rainfall until 5:30 p.m., with other areas, including Ridge and Mayur Vihar, experiencing 15.4 mm and 9.5 mm respectively.
Organisers across Delhi struggled to keep the effigies dry. Members of the Adarsh Ramleela Committee in Ashok Vihar noted, “We tried to cover it with plastic, but most of it 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 remarked, “Around 10% of the effigy got drenched despite plastic covers. There was waterlogging, but we hope the Dahan goes well.”
In East Delhi, Nitin Gupta, treasurer of the Hanumant Dharmik Ramleela Committee, expressed his concerns, stating, “The rain came as a shock and delayed preparations. We are now using petrol and diesel to ensure the effigy catches fire.”
