Dussehra, symbolising the triumph of dharma over adharma, was celebrated across the country on Tuesday, with revellers flocking to Ramlila grounds to witness the burning of effigies of the demon king Ravan.
President Droupadi Murmu, along with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, attended Dussehra celebrations at Dwarka, where the President set Ravan’s effigy ablaze. Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Vijayadashami celebrations at the Indraprastha Ramlila Ground, while Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chandni Chowk MP Praveen Khandelwal attended the Luv Kush Ram Lila celebrations at Ramlila Maidan near the Red Fort.
PM Modi addressed Dussehra celebrations in Delhi on Tuesday, saying the festival was a proclamation of the “end of tyranny and terror”. He hailed Dussehra as a “testament to the belief” in the triumph of truth over falsehood.
Extending his wishes on the festival, PM Modi said, “On Vijayadashami, I offer my salutations at the feet of Lord Shri Ram, Mother Janaki, and Bajrangbali. I extend my heartfelt wishes for Vijayadashami to all my countrymen.” Modi led the event at the Indraprastha Ramleela Ground, setting ablaze Ravan’s effigy. The prime minister hailed the Dussehra celebrations being held around the country, saying, “Today, every corner of India is imbued with the spirit of Lord Ram, in every village and every city. The entire nation is immersed in the spirit of the Ramlila.”
The prime minister took the opportunity to underline his government’s goal to make India self-reliant. “We must have faith in our resources. We must turn our resolve into power and find solutions through our own hard work. Because Lord Shri Ram taught us that the difficulties cannot stop our journey,” he said.
PM Modi emphasised that there was no discrimination against anyone in ‘Ram Rajya’ and everyone received justice and equal opportunities. The purpose of power is not to rule, but to ensure public welfare -- this is the ideal of Lord Ram.
Murmu performed the traditional aarti of Lord Ram, Lakshman and Sita before releasing an arrow to set Ravan’s effigy ablaze. The event featured 90-foot effigies of Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnath, said Bharat Bhushan Malviya, a core committee member and media head of Dwarka Shri Ram Leela. Wishing people on Dussehra, the President called upon the people to imbibe the qualities of Lord Ram, saying his story inspired them to respect nature, protect the environment and care for everyone.
Addressing the gathering at Dussehra celebration at Dwarka ground, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said Dussehra was a day of joy for Delhi and symbolised not just Lord Ram’s victory over Ravan but also the triumph of good over evil. “Ravan continues to exist in society in the form of darkness, arrogance, anger, crime, violence against women, social discrimination, corruption and hatred continue to pose challenges to society. These evils can be eliminated only when everyone embraces Lord Ram’s ideals and fulfils their duties by reflecting those values in their conduct.
The Chief Minister said that if people did not adopt Lord Ram’s ideals in their lives, it would be difficult to eliminate the evils prevalent in society. She said hatred must be eliminated and the lamp of love must be lit to build a brighter future for the country. She called upon people to stand united against the evils prevalent in society and teach anti-national elements a lesson. She said all Indians must work together for the country’s progress and a brighter future.
At the Vijayadashami celebrations organised by the Shri Keshav Ramlila Committee at the DDA Ground in Pitampura, a 30-foot-tall effigy of a ‘demon cockroach’ was also burnt. The giant cockroach effigy became the centre of attraction, drawing excitement and curiosity from the audience.
The organisers said burning the cockroach effigy aimed at highlighting problems associated with unhygienic surroundings and the spread of diseases, while encouraging people to take responsibility for keeping their homes and neighbourhoods clean. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Arun Singh, Delhi Cabinet minister Kapil Mishra and Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Delhi unit president Kapil Khanna attended the event as chief guests.
Taking a serious note, AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj has filed a complaint with the Lieutenant Governor and Delhi Police commissioner against the organisers over a planned burning of a 30-foot cockroach effigy alongside those of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad.
The complaint names committee president and BJP MLA Ashok Kumar Sevraha and Delhi minister Kapil Mishra, among others, and seeks the immediate removal of the allegedly offensive content from media platforms.
Reacting to this, Mishra said: “Look, the effigy being burned represents a cockroach, but it is the termites that are feeling the pain. Why are these termites in Indian politics squirming? The public has a different kind of pesticide to deal with them. The cockroach symbolises filth and anarchy-emerging from the gutter and eventually returning to it. Today, Lal Salaam supporters, Naxalites, jihadists, appeasers and corrupt individuals have come together to conspire against the nation. The public wants their effigies burned...” Mishra said, “Just as truth triumphs and falsehood is defeated, in keeping with that very tradition, the defeat of any anti-national forces that stand against India is inevitable.”
Earlier, PM Modi extended Vijayadashami greetings to the people. “Heartiest greetings of Vijayadashami to everyone. May this festival of victory, filled with joy and faith, empower everyone’s resolve with renewed strength,” PM Modi said in a post on X in Hindi. In an unfortunate incident, two people were injured after the gate of amusement ride broke at a Dussehra ground in west Delhi’s Vikaspuri on Tuesday.