E-Paper
Ravana to go up in flames around 25 places in Chandigarh
Adding to the grandeur this year, are the towering effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran, and Meghnad, set at 60 to 70 feet at Sector 46 and Sector 34. At other places, the height of effigies is below 60 feet.
Good will once again triumph over evil as Ravana effigies are set to go up in flames at 25 locations in the city amid a dazzling display of fireworks amid sunset on Tuesday.
Adding to the grandeur this year, are the towering effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran, and Meghnad, set at 60 to 70 feet at Sector 46 and Sector 34. At other places, the height of effigies is below 60 feet.
The festivities in Sector 46 are set to commence around 4pm, with Chandigarh director general of police Parveer Ranjan as the chief guest. At other locations, the celebrations will be held from 4pm to 6pm.
Residents and visitors can witness the grand spectacle at Ramlila Ground Sector 27, Sabji Mandi Sector 29, Dussehra Ground Sector 29, Masjid ground Phase 2 Ramdarbar, near Valmiki Mandir, Sector 24, Shri Laxmi Narayan Mandir, Sector 22, Dhanas, Panjab University, Milk Colony, Dhanas, Sai Baba Mandir, Khudda Lohara, and Market Ground, Sector 15.
Effigy burning is also schedule at other sites across the city, including EWS Flats Sector 26, Mandi ground near Ramdarbar, Arya Samaj Mandir, Sector 7, CPWD Sector 7, Sabji Mandi Ramdarbar, Subhash Nagar Manimajra, Sabji Mandi Ramdarbar Phase 2, RBI Colony, Sector 30, Shani Mandir Manimajra, and Nanaksar Gurudwara, Sector 28.
Mohali to celebrate Dussehra in Sec 77
In Mohali, an 80-ft high Ravana, alongside the effigies of Kumbhakaran and Meghnad, will be burnt at the Sector 77 ground, with the message of drug eradication. Mohali deputy commissioner Ashika Jain will be the chief guest at the event.
Anurag Aggarwal, the general secretary of the committee, said Dussehra was normally celebrated at Phase 8, however, due to the construction of a mall, the location was shifted near the YPS school ground. This year, however, owing to protests by the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha, the celebration has been moved to Sector 77, he said.
At 171-ft, country’s tallest Ravana effigy in Panchkula
The 171-ft Ravana effigy, an attraction point, is set to take the centrestage of the celebrations at Shalimar Ground, Sector 5, Panchkula. A whopping ₹18 lakh was spent on crafting the colossal effigy, a collaborative effort by the Mata Mansa Devi Charitable Trust (Dussehra Committee) of Panchkula and Adarsh Ramlila Dramatic Club.
Over the course of three months, a team of 25 skilled artisans dedicated their efforts to bring this towering Ravana to life. Crafting the Ravana face required 25 quintals of iron, 500 bamboo pieces, 3,000 metres of mat, 3,500 metres of cloth, and 1 quintal of fiber. Inside the effigy, eco-friendly firecrackers from Tamil Nadu have been installed.
Only green crackers allowed
The UT administration has allowed the use of green firecrackers from 4pm till 6pm. The SHOs of the police stations concerned are to ensure that no other firecracker, except green ones, are to be used for effigy burning.
Fireworks will not be allowed in silence zones, that is an area at least 100m away from hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health-care centres, educational institutions, courts, religious places etc.
Any violation will invite immediate penal action under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, along with other relevant acts such as Disaster Management Act. 2005, Environment Protection Act, 1986, Explosive Act, etc.
