Britishers, Scots light up Dusshera celebrations in hilly Edinburgh

If Navratri and Durga Puja are here, Dussehra can’t be far. But did you know the largest Dussehra celebrations outside India are held in the hilly city of Edinburgh, capital of Scotland? Every year since 1994, a staggering 250 artistes perform cultural shows comprising Indian and tribal Scottish folk-dance forms, after which three massive effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad are burnt atop Calton Hill, where a massive marquee is set up next to the iconic Roman pillars.

"We source the effigies from different places. For nearly 12 years they were made by local prisoners who gradually got to know of Indian culture over the years. For a few years they were made using recycled wood by a charity which rehabilitated those with substance abuse disorders," says Nirav Mehta, vice-president of the Scottish Indian Art Forum (SIAF) that started celebrating Dussehra on a large scale in Edinburgh in 1994.

"We are a group of professionals with regular jobs in the city. We volunteer to stage such events to celebrate Indian culture with the locals as it encourages community cohesion," says Mehta.

This year the celebrations will commence at 3pm on Saturday, Oct 19. "More than 75 children perform every year. We also have arts and crafts for the children around the theme of Dussehra. As part of the grand finale of the stage show, the Ramleela story is enacted, following which the audience witness the burning of the 18ft tall effigies, and spectacular fireworks," says Abhijit Chakraborty, president of SIAF.

And it’s not just Indians, Brits and the Scottish also join in for the event taking the turnout to over 3,000. "The performing groups range from Dhollies to tribal Scottish folk and highland dancers. We have Indian classical dance performances from local dance schools as well.”

After the celebrations, the debris is cleaned up and the site handed over, says Chakraborty.