Anvi Singh
Patna: A jubilant celebration of Vijayadashami, the festival symbolizing the victory of good over evil, graced by the presence of Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief Minister (CM) Nitish Kumar, unfolded at the majestic Gandhi Maidan in Patna.
The event featured the ceremonial burning of towering effigies, with a colossal 70-foot Ravana, a 65-foot Meghnad, and an imposing 60-foot Kumbhkaran, symbolizing the ultimate triumph of righteousness.
The festivities commenced with a vibrant procession, featuring Lord Ram, Laxman, Hanuman, Vibhishan, Sugriva, Jamwant, and Angad, among others. The procession commenced at 2 pm from Nagababa Thakurbari, winding its way through Nala Road, Arya Kumar Road, Machhuatoli, and Bakarganj, ultimately arriving at Gandhi Maidan.
At Gandhi Maidan, the celebrations began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, marking the formal inauguration of the Shri Ramlila Mahotsav and Ravanavadh Ceremony, orchestrated by the esteemed Sri Sri Dussehra Committee Trust. As a gesture of warm welcome, organizers presented a memento to CM Nitish. In a poignant symbol of unity and peace, CM Nitish released balloons into the sky, conveying a message of harmony resonating across the state.
CM Nitish then conducted the Tilak ceremony, reverently applying the auspicious mark to the idols of Lord Ram and Lord Laxman. The evening continued with the consecration and worship of the effigies representing the embodiments of evil – Kumbhakaran, Meghnad, and Ravana – culminating in their spectacular ceremonial immolation.
The grand event witnessed the presence of eminent figures, including RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Minister of Finance, Commercial Tax, and Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Tej Pratap Yadav, Bihar Congress President Akhilesh Prasad Singh, MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, MLC Reena Yadav, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister S Siddharth, Principal Secretary of the Fisheries Resources Department N Vijaya Lakshmi, Secretary of Building Construction, and Patna Divisional Commissioner Kumar Ravi.
Notable attendees also included Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh, Inspector General (Patna-Central) Rakesh Rathi, and the President of the Shri Shri Dussehra Committee Trust, Kamal Nopani, alongside other distinguished guests.
