Dussehra 2024: The festival of Dussehra, a symbol of the victory of good over evil, is being celebrated across the country today. On this day, effigies of Ravana are burnt at many places. But there is a place in Meerut, UP where the effigy of Ravana is first made to drink alcohol and after that, the place where the effigy of Ravana is erected is also sprinkled with alcohol. After which the effigy is burnt. 

You may be a little surprised to know this but it is true. In Meerut, Shri Ram Leela Committee Cantonment Council stages Ramleela in Bhainsali Ground. This Ramleela has been staged for about 64 years. Since then, on Dussehra, when the effigy of Ravana is erected, it is given liquor to drink. Along with this, liquor is also poured at the place where the effigy of Ravana is erected. This is a trick which will shock you too.

Ravana is made to drink alcohol.
Elders and old people have been seen doing this work for the last 64 years. The trick that the elders did regarding the effigy of Ravana is still going on today. Alcohol is ordered for the effigy of Ravana and then it is made to drink. In this regard, Ganesh Agarwal, general secretary of Shri Ram Leela Committee Cantonment Board said that we did this twice that Ravana's effigy was not made to drink alcohol and then Ravana's effigy did not stand up. Full efforts were made and when more people were engaged to make Ravana's effigy stand up, the effigy broke in the middle. 

After which the old people of the committee and the elders of the area said that this is a trick to make them drink alcohol and then make the effigy of Ravana stand up. As soon as the effigy of Ravana was made to drink alcohol, the effigy stood up easily. After which this trend started, here before making the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghnad stand up, they are made to drink alcohol and then they are made to stand up. 

Ramlila is being staged in Meerut's Bhainsali ground for the last 64 years. Here 130 feet tall effigy of Ravana, 120 feet tall effigy of Kumbhakaran and 110 feet tall effigy of Meghnad are burnt. Ramlila committee says that if Ravana's effigy is not given liquor, then the effigy will not stand upright.