By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: The festival of Vijayadashami symbolises the triumph of good over evil. On this day, the effigy of Ravana is burnt across the country as a celebration of victory. In this tradition, the Ravana Dahan ceremony was conducted for the 69th consecutive year at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. Before Ravana’s effigy, the effigies of Meghnad and Kumbhakaran were burnt on Saturday.
This year, the height of the effigies was increased by 10 feet by the Dussehra Puja Committee. The effigies stood at 80 feet for Ravana, 75 feet for Meghnad, and 70 feet for Kumbhakaran. The sequence began with the burning of Kumbhakaran’s effigy, followed by Meghnad, and finally Ravana.
Earlier, at 4:00 pm, a procession of Lord Ram’s army commenced from Naga Baba Thakurbari at Kadamkuan, reaching Gandhi Maidan by 5:00 pm. The procession entered through Gate No. 1. The Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, and Bihar Governor, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, welcomed Shri Ram Sena by performing an aarti. Following this, Hanuman entered Gandhi Maidan, symbolically destroying the golden Lanka created there, and Shri Ram Sena defeated Ravana’s army.
To manage the Ravana Dahan event, the Patna district administration divided the entire Gandhi Maidan into four sectors, with senior officials overseeing arrangements. A temporary police station, three control rooms, and 13 watchtowers were set up, and a bike squad patrolled the area. Additionally, three QRT teams were active. Adequate lighting arrangements were made with 136 LED metal lights, 229 pole lights, and 20 high-mast lights. The entire Ravana Dahan ceremony was monitored with 128 CCTV cameras.
The Ravana Dahan at Gandhi Maidan is renowned nationwide, taking place for the 69th consecutive year. It is ranked among the top 10 effigy-burning events in India. The ceremony is a part of the Ramlila programme, which is hosted at Naga Baba Thakurbari. The Ramlila festival runs for 13 days, concluding with Bharat Milaap at Nagababa Thakurbari on 13 October.
Before Ravana’s effigy was set alight, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar performed an aarti for the artists dressed as Ram, Sita, and Laxman.
A large crowd gathered at the historic Gandhi Maidan to witness the Ravana Vadh event. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar set Ravana’s effigy ablaze, following the burning of Kumbhakaran’s and Meghnad’s effigies.
During the event, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police, Patna District Magistrate, and the City Superintendent of Police continuously monitored the venue.
