City of Joy also awaits Dussehra

KOLKATA: Pandal hopping and Bijaya for some, Ramlila and Ravana dahan (burning effigy of the demon god) for others. If Durga''s visit calls for celebrations among Bengalis, the forthcoming Dussehra is a much-awaited festival especially among the sizeable Punjabi populace in the city.
"We celebrate the festival with great fanfare and it provides the perfect backdrop for bringing the whole community together," said Punjabee Bradree''s Dussehra sub-committee chairman Suresh Kumar Dhingra.
One of the biggest celebrations organised by the Bradree in eastern India, the festival on October 23 will celebrate the victory of Rama over Ravana.
While in other parts of the country and especially in Punjab, Dussehra marks the day after the nine day celebrations — filled with Ramlila (enactments of Ramayana) and Ravana dahan, for the Punjabi community in Kolkata the celebrations are combined on the final day of Dussehra.
And from Ramlila that includes Rama''s marriage to Sita, Sita''s kidnapping and Rama''s victory over Ravana, to burning an effigy of Ravana, the entire celebration will take place at the TAI Maidan grounds.
Nearly 40 feet high effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghnad will be placed at the centre of the ground and will be set on fire — symbolising the victory of good over evil.Over 50 artists at Kharagpur''s Azad Boys'' Club, who specialise in effigies, are working round the clock to prepare the huge structure made of straw, jute cloth, cardboard and stuffed with fire crackers.
"People from neighbouring districts and other communities come over to view the celebration," said Dhingra.