Patna: Patna celebrated Vijayadashami with great enthusiasm on Thursday as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Governor Arif Mohammad Khan inaugurated the Shri Ramlila Festival and Ravana Vadh Ceremony 2025 at Gandhi Maidan. The event, organised by the Shri Krishna Memorial Committee, the Department of Art, Culture and Youth, and the Shri Shri Dussehra Committee Trust, drew large crowds of devotees and spectators. The ceremony began with the lighting of a ceremonial lamp, and the Chief Minister was welcomed with a memento, a robe, and a religious book, a gesture symbolising respect and tradition.
During the event, Nitish Kumar released a balloon into the sky, sending a message of peace and harmony across Bihar. He also performed aarti, a sacred ritual, in front of the images of Shri Ram and Shri Lakshman. The main attraction of the ceremony was the burning of the effigies of Kumbhakaran, Meghnad, and Ravana, which represent the forces of evil. Each effigy was set on fire one by one, with the crowd cheering and chanting as flames lit up the evening sky, symbolising the victory of good over evil.
Many senior officials and political leaders attended the event. Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Deepak Kumar were present. High-ranking officials including Patna Division Commissioner Dr. Chandrashekhar Singh, Inspector General of Police Patna Range Jitendra Rana, and District Magistrate Tyagarajan S.M. also joined the ceremony. Members of the Shri Shri Dussehra Committee Trust, including Chairman Kamal Nopani and President Arun Kumar, were actively involved in organising the event.
The Ravana Dahan ceremony is one of the most important cultural events in Patna and continues to bring people together from all walks of life. It not only entertains but also teaches important values, reminding everyone of the victory of good over evil. Officials at the event highlighted the message of peace, harmony, and unity, encouraging citizens to follow these values in daily life. As the effigies burned against the night sky, the festival left a lasting impression on all those who witnessed it, celebrating Bihar’s rich traditions and cultural heritage.
