The effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghnad are being prepared on a war footing in the city. This year, the effigy of Ravana at Parade Ground will be 60-feet while those of Kumbhakarna and Meghnad would be 55-feet and 50-feet respectively. The effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad will be lit on the occasion of Vijaydashmi on Friday. like previous years, Ravana will meet his symbolic end at the hands of lord Rama during the Vijaydashmi celebrations.
Dehradun Dussehra Committee President SantokhSingh Nagpal said on Wednesday that this year, Doon residents will witness lord Rama burning the 60-foot effigy of Ravana on Vijaydashmi at the Parade Ground in Dehradun on Friday. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil, showing Ram's triumph over Ravana as depicted in the epic Ramayana and would be burnt at around 6.30 pm on Friday. Kumbhkarna and Meghnad will be lit through remote control, he added.
He further said, "This time, fires will be seen erupting from the mouth and eyes of Ravana before it is burnt by lord Rama. Three floor height of lanka Dhahan will be constructed and four devils will also be put outside lanka at Parade Ground. Religious processions including lanka Dahan and Shobha Yatra, will be organised which will start from Kalika Temple and passing through different intersections including Paltan Bazaar, Moti Bazaar, Rajpur Road and finally conclude at Parade Ground on Vijaydashmi."
According to him, a team of 20 artisans including four women from Haryana have designed huge effigies of Ravana- 60 foot, 55-foot effigy of Kumbhakarna and 50-foot effigy of Meghnad worth more than Rs1.5 lakhs. Firecrackers worth around Rs1 lakh would be used to burn the three effigies.The artists have almost completed the making of effigies.
"After burning the effigies of Meghnatha, Kumbhkarna and Ravana, we will have special fireworks for half an hour," he added. The programme on Bharat Milap will be organised.
Nagpal further said that Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat will be the chief guest while former Uttarakhand speaker Harbans Kapur will be special gust on the occasion. Tehri MP Mala Rajya lakshmi Shah, local MlAs Rajkumar, Umesh Sharma 'Kau' and Ganesh Joshi among others will also present on the occasion.
Sayed, one of the artists who was busying in putting crackers in effigies of Ravana at a school, Race Course, said that his family has been working in making crackers for the past many decades. "This is our family work. My grandfather and father always took pride in working during Hindu festivals. "Since childhood, I started helping out my parents in this art. As my forefathers use to make these crackers I too become interested." he added.