Delhi: VIP rush at Ramlilas on Vijayadashami

NEW DELHI: Vijayadashami is here and politicians and celebrities will be making a beeline to reach Ramlila grounds across the city to preside over the culmination of the nine-day festivities. Three of the oldest Ramlilas at the Red Fort foregrounds are expected to be visited by dignitaries like the Vice-President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former PMs and political party presidents.Usually, dignitaries join Dussehra celebrations at Ramlila Maidans in central Delhi.
In a departure from tradition, PM Modi is expected to attend the event organised by Dwarka Sri Ram Leela Society at DDA ground in Dwarka, Sector 10. Rajesh Gehlot, ex-MLA and chairman of the society, said the PM is scheduled to reach the venue at 5.30pm on Tuesday. However, there has been no official confirmation from the PM’s office.
President Ramnath Kovind will be skipping the Red Fort foregrounds and attending effigy burning at Shree Ramleela Committee Indraprastha in IP Extension, east Delhi. Suresh Bindal, the president of the committee, said the President’s private secretary has confirmed the acceptance to the invitation.
Ravi Jain from Shri Dharmic Leela Committee (Madhav Das Park) said that Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, former PM Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi will be presiding over the ceremony. “Priyanka Gandhi will also grace our Dussehra celebrations,” he added.
Rahul Sharma of Nav Shri Dharmic Leela Committee said that Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi will also be visiting their Vijayadashami ceremony. He added that a forth effigy, symbolising plastic waste, will also be burnt there.
Lav Kush Ramlila Committee will feature Bollywood celebrities. Ashok Agarwal, one of the organisers, said that Tapsee Pannu has confirmed her participation. “The committee has also invited chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has confirmed his participation,” he added.
Some of the Ramlila committees are using innovative methods to showcase victory of good over evil. Cement Manufacturers Association in collaboration with Union ministry of housing and urban affairs will be mechanically disposing of a huge Ravana figure made out of plastic waste in a representative cement plant.
In northwest Delhi, the Ramlila mahotsav organised by Shree Ramleela Committee PU Block Pitampura will also be employing innovative technologies to circumvent the need for crackers. Committee president Krishan Basia said that electricity sparks will being used to recreate the effect of effigy burning.