In keeping with the custom of burning the tallest effigy in Kolkata during Dussehra, the Central Park (Salt Lake), Kolkata saw the burning of a 50-foot effigy of Meghnad and Kumbhakaran and a 60-foot effigy of Ravana by the Salt Lake Sanskritik Sansad Committee & Sanmarg. By commemorating the triumph of good over evil, the primary goal of this festival was to create a lively engagement between the populace and the rich culture and traditions of West Bengal.

The event was attended by Sri. Sujit Bose, Minister of State for Fire, Sri. Krishna Chakraborty, Mayor of Bidhannagar, Sri. Vivek Gupta, MLA, Sri. Sabyasachi Dutta, Chairperson of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, Smt. Ruchika Gupta, Director of Sanmarg, Sri. Sanjay Agarwal, President of Salt Lake Sanskritik Sansad, Sri. Lalit Beriwala, Chairman of Trust Board of Salt Lake Sanskritik Sansad, Sri. Amit Poddar, Secretary of Salt Lake Sanskritik Sansad, Sri. Pradeep Todi, IPP of Salt Lake Sanskritik Sansad & many others.

Thousands of devotees flocked to the site to watch the yearly ceremony. Hindus celebrate Dussehra by hosting unique prayer gatherings and making food offerings to the gods in their homes or at temples all around India. In addition, they have big parades and open-air fairs with effigies of the demon king Ravana, which are burned at night over bonfires. Goddess Durga’s idols are submerged in water.

The Dussehra festival celebrated its wonderful 12-year jubilee this year. To captivate the crowd, the organizers invited performers from different parts of the country.

This festival upholds our rich cultural legacy while also commemorating the triumph of good over evil.

Priyanka Dutta