After Kashmiris celebrated the festival of Eid-ul-Adha by remaining locked down inside their houses and could not even offer traditional prayers in mosques, now the festival of Dussehra-symbolising the victory of good over evil- has become the latest casualty of ongoing unrest in Kashmir valley.
“There will be no formal Dussehra celebrations in Kashmir valley this year. We will not burn effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnath president of Kashmiri Pandits Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS) Sanjay Tickoo told The Pioneer.
“Since 2007 we were celebrating the festival in the Valley but due to ongoing unrest in the Kashmir valley we are not going to organise Dussehra celebrations this year,” Tickoo clarified.
Former Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed along with his political adviser Amitabh Mattoo and senior Cabinet colleagues had attended the celebrations in Polo Ground in 2015.
On the other hand the security establishment across Jammu region is expected to remain on its tenterhooks in the run up to the Dusshera on October 11.
Despite border tension along the International Border and the line of control the public mood is upbeat. large number of Ram leela clubs in these areas are organising special Ram leela shows in small play grounds and are gearing up for the Dussehra celebrations.
The residents across border towns have been advised to stay alert to foil any major terror strike during the festival season.
In Jammu, a group of over 50 artisans from Meerut lead by Mohd Rehan and Gayas-ud-din, a trained physiotherapist, are working over time in Geeta Bhawan complex to meet the deadline of delivering effigies at different destinations.
Gayas-ud-din told The Pioneer," my artisans are working round the clock to complete the orders. He said we are preparing at least 30 effigies of Ravana and his two brothers for different Dusshera functions at Jammu, Rajori, Poonch, Sunderbani, Nowshera, Bisnah, RS Pura and leh".
He said this year we have not received any order for preparing effigies of Ravana for Srinagar.
Mohd Rehan and his team is visiting Jammu for over three decades now. "I've been coming here for the last 32 years. I first came here with my uncle Siraj Ud Din in early eighties and since then i have not missed a single visit to the 'city of temples', Rehan said remembering his long journey. In those days one set costed 20,000 and now we spend 4-5 lakhs on one set of effigies of Ravana and his brothers.
Mohd Rehan said, "i enjoy my stay in the temple complex and stay here with my entire team". Sanatan Dharam Sabha is hosting us for past several years and we share a special bond with the people of Jammu. "We cook our food and work round the clock to meet the deadlines. Known as Teer Gaars these artists rely on bamboo and the same is specially brought from Assam to design the effigies",Mohd Rehan said. President of Shri Ram leela Club Akhnoor Brij Pal Sharma told The Pioneer, "people are attending Ram leela without fearing for escalating border tensions". He said Ram leela is being organised across six different places and security forces have made elaborate arrangements.
Satish Sasan,President of Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Poonch told The Pioneer, "the mood of the local residents is up beat and attending Ram leela in large numbers. There is no fear and we are geared up to celebrate Dusshera". Organisers of Dusshera festival in RS Pura border belt are making all arrangements to ensure safety and security of locals who assemble in large numbers to witness the victory of good over evil at Bana Singh stadium.