Dehradun Ravana Dahan: The festival of Vijayadashami was celebrated with great pomp and gaiety in the capital Dehradun on Saturday. Ravana Dahan programs were organized at more than six places including major places of the city like Race Course, Bannu School, Hindu National Inter College, Prem Nagar and Patel Nagar. The most prominent of these was organized by the Dussehra Committee Bannu Biradari at the historic Parade Ground, in which thousands of people participated. The chief guest of the event was Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, along with many dignitaries and ministers.

Before the program of Ravana Dahan, a grand procession was organized, which started from Kalika Mata Marg and reached the Parade Ground through various parts of the city. The procession had live images of Lord Ram, Sita, Laxman and Hanuman. Hanuman remained the center of special attraction in it. Devotees and spectators welcomed the procession with great enthusiasm and after reaching the Parade Ground, the Ravana Dahan ceremony began.

Ravana Dahan was started by burning the symbolic effigy of Lanka. After which the effigies of Kumbhakarna and Meghnad were burnt respectively. In the end, the huge effigy of Ravana was burnt with great gusto, which was witnessed by thousands of people. Fireworks were also organised during the programme, which made the event even more colourful. 

Address by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami

After Ravana Dahan, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami addressed the public. Describing the festival of Vijayadashami as a symbol of the victory of good over evil, he said, "We should adopt the ideals of Maryada Purushottam Lord Shri Ram in our lives. We should stay away from ego and evil and follow the path of truth and honesty, so that the country and the state can progress." The Chief Minister also mentioned the historical connection of Uttarakhand with Ramayana, when Hanuman ji came to Uttarakhand to get Sanjivani booti when Laxman ji fainted. 

Respect culture and traditions- CM Dhami

Chief Minister Dhami also stressed the need to maintain the dignity of the sacred land of Uttarakhand. He said, "There is no place for activities like love jihad, mazar jihad and spit jihad in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. We have to save our state from these evils and respect the culture and traditions here."

Cabinet minister Ganesh Joshi was also present

Uttarakhand government's cabinet minister Ganesh Joshi was also present in this program. He said, "This festival of Vijayadashami teaches us that we should always support truth in life and be ready to fight evil. Lord Ram's life is an ideal for us and we should follow the path shown by him."

Citizens were also present along with religious leaders

Along with this, local administrative officials, religious leaders and a large number of city residents participated in this event. The public also celebrated this event with great enthusiasm. Many families came to see the Dussehra fair with their children and shopped from various stalls set up in the fair. Children enjoyed the swings in the fair and enjoyed the scene of Ravana Dahan.