The ten- day festival of Durga Puja concluded with Dashmi, Saturday, October 12. The celebration comes to an end with burning of effigies of Ravan, his brother Kumbhkaran and son Meghnad that are filled with firecrackers marking the victory of righteousness and the destruction of evil that takes place in Morabadi Maidan every year is a major attraction for Ranchiites.
Thousands from all age groups gathered to witness Chief Minister Hemant Soren slaying the demon king Ravan while the Minister of State for Defence Government of India Sanjay Seth and MLA CP Singh burnt the dummies of Kumbhkaran and Meghnad respectively. As a towering 70- feet tall figure of Ravan was lit, the ground resonated with thunderous applause.
Revellers were also treated to a cultural programme which included a live state of Shri Ramji and a live tableau of Ravan killing by folk artists from Uttar Pradesh. A display of fireworks by Pyro Fire Works from Mumbai and Kolkata as well as a Bhangra dance performance by Paramit Singh and his group from Jamshedpur entertained the on- lookers.
“I come here every year especially for my children to not just see the fireworks but to also teach them about our culture and traditions. I believe it is also a way to instill values of truthfulness, honesty, compassion and selflessness as on this day Lord Ram had killed Ravan marking the defeat of evil and the victory of the good,” said Amit Kumar, a resident of Morabadi.
“Living abroad for the last 25 years, this is one of the few times when I am in Ranchi for the festival season with my children and this time I had to bring them for Ravan Dahan as this is something they will never get to witness every year. Events such as these keep us rooted to our traditions. Burning the figure of Ravan and the fireworks that follow is not just a sight to see, it also symbolises that we should let go of our negative traits like anger, greed and pride- the ones that led to his destruction and imbibe qualities like that of Shri Ram- humility, patience, honesty, leadership and courage,” said Ritika Prasad, a resident of Kanke Road.
The day of Dashmi is also the day when worshippers bid an emotional farewell to Goddess Durga. Idols from various temples and neighbourhood pandals were seen being transported on decorated trucks to water bodies in the City for the ritual. Devotees assembled in huge numbers at the banks of Argora Talab, Kanke Dam, Madhukam Talab, Bada Talab and other water bodies to catch a final glimpse of their Goddess.
A highlight of the final day of the festival is the 'Sindur Khela' ceremony, where women adorn each other with vermilion, symbolising the strength of the goddess. “It is a day when married women celebrate their husbands and pray to the Goddess for their long life, well- being and prosperity. It is when we seek blessings from Durga Ma for our husbands and families. It also looks very pretty as all women are dressed in traditional white and red sarees as we smear each other with sindoor and celebrate,” said Vatsal, a resident of Lalpur.
Durga Puja is also that time of the year when several puja pandals are set up across the City on varied themes to attract revellers. While the weather played spoilt sport, pandal hoppers still ventured out with great enthusiasm.
From a facsimile of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya to the Adiyogi in Coimbatore from a Rajasthani Raj Darbar to the sacred Kashi Vishawanath’s Dashashwamedh Ghat, puja pandals left no stone unturned to attract pandal hoppers this year.
The Ram Temple replica in the old Vidha Sabha ground by Shri Ram Lalla Puja Committee had a 32 feet wide and 19 feet high idol of Goddess Durga while that of Lord Shri Ram which was be made of silicon was about 8 feet high. The pandal was built at a whopping cost of Rs 98 lakh and more than 200 artisans were engaged in shaping the structure.
The RR Sporting Club which over the years has made a significant mark amongst the devotees for its unique presentation style depicted the various forms of Goddess Durga worshipped during Navratri and the pandal which was built in the form of a huge doll was based on the theme called ‘Maa ke Anek Roop’.
This venue also paid a rich tribute to the freedom fighters who fought for the Indian Independence and other elated personalities. The passage leading up to the sanctum sanctorum has posters of Mahatma Gandhi, Birsa Munda, Subash Chandra Bose and Mother Teresa to name a few.
Here, the idol of Goddess Durga was about 18 feet tall while the centre dais was around 15 feet broad and the entire pandal was primed up at a budget of Rs 45 lakh.
The pandal by the Rajasthan Mitra Mandal was one made using rice bran and straw. The interiors of the pandal had Krishsna Leela illustrated through paintings while the deity Banjrangbali was seen seated outside the pandal. A grand idol of Goddess Durga about 15 feet high and 14 feet wide was decorated in ornaments bright as gold was seated inside the pandal. The pandal circular in shape was about 40 feet in diameter and 25 feet in height, the construction was done at a whooping cost of Rs 15 lakh while another Rs 2 lakh was used for the idols and 1.5 lakh for light.
Amongst Durga puja revellers in Ranchi, Chandrashekhar Azad puja pandal is known for its exemplary art work, décor and innovative concept. Being decked up since 1961, this year the City’s oldest pandal gave a glimpse of Kashi Vishawanath’s Dashashwamedh Ghat and the theme of the pandal was ‘Aarambh hi Anth’.
At the venue, a statue of Prime Minister Narendera Modi who is also the Member of Parliament for Varanasi was seen doing the aarti of the deity which was an added attraction. The structure of the pandal was about 65 feet in height, 75 feet wide and 80 feet in depth and was built at a whopping cost of Rs 40 lakh.
Amongst pandal hoppers, Bakri Bazaar is known for its grand idol and this time special attention was being given to its decoration. This year, the Bakri Bazaar puja pandal was primed up on the theme of a fictional Rajasthani Raj Darbar or Royal Court.
The tableau of the five idols placed on the dais was about 32 feet broad while the idol of Goddess Durga was around 18 feet high. The ornaments used to decorate the deities were bright as gold. In a bid to protect the environment, the figures of all the deities were being made using eco- friendly materials. The entire structure was about 100 feet wide, 110 feet long and 75 feet high while the budget for the whole event including that of the idols of the deities, lighting and decoration was fixed at a whopping cost of Rs 85 lakh.
“I went pandal hopping twice, first on the day of Shashti and then again on Navmi. My 11- year son was very excited to see the lighting and decoration and also have a fun night out with his parents. The Ram Mandir pandal was absolutely breathtaking to see with its intricate artwork and lighting arrangements. In spite of the rain, it was still very crowded. We also enjoyed some delicious food at Bakri Bazaar and my son always enjoys the swings and rides set up,” said Aarti Kumari, a resident of Morabadi.
“Durga puja is that of the year when the whole City is alive and buzzing with activity and enthusiasm 24 hours. The replica of the Ram Mandir was a sight to behold and for a moment I felt I was in Ayodhya paying obeisance to my favourite deity Lord Ram. Being a senior citizen, me and wife went during the day of Ashtami, though it was very crowded, it was all very well managed,” said Manoj Singh, a City based resident.
