Patna: Three giant effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna will be installed at Gandhi Maidan on Monday morning ahead of the Ravan Vadh ceremony on Dussehra. Artists are giving final touches to the effigies, the centrepiece of the 71st Shri Ramlila Mahotsav organised by the Shri Dussehra Committee Trust.The Ravana effigy will be 90 feet tall, while those of Meghnad and Kumbhakarna will measure 85 feet and 80 feet respectively. Crafted by artisans from Agra, the structures have steel pipes to protect them from rain. A two-storey Sone ki Lanka will also be set up alongside the effigies.The Ravan Vadh programme will begin at 4.30pm on Oct 20 and conclude around 6pm. The three effigies will be burnt as part of the traditional celebration of the victory of good over evil, followed by an eco-friendly fireworks display.The ceremony will be preceded by a ‘Shobha Yatra’ from Naga Baba Thakurbari, passing through Kadamkuan and Bakerganj before reaching Gate No. 1 of Gandhi Maidan. Ram’s sena, including performers dressed as Lord Hanuman and members of the vanar sena, will take part in the procession.Shri Dussehra Committee Trust chairman Kamal Nopany said organisers were taking additional precautions this year, particularly for crowd management, in view of the recent incident in Kolkata. He said the focus would be on ensuring the large gathering remained safe and orderly.The event is expected to be attended by Bihar governor Syed Ata Hasnain, CM Samrat Choudhary, deputy chief ministers Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Nagaland governor Nand Kishore Yadav, ministers, MLAs and other public representatives.A 36-member team from New Delhi’s Sanskritik Kala Sangam has also been staging a modern presentation of Ramleela with a large digital screen showing visuals corresponding to the performances. The Ramleela began on Oct 11 and will continue till Oct 19.The organisers have planned Bharat Milap at Gandhi Maidan on Oct 21. The administration has separately stepped up security and crowd-management arrangements with officials directed to strengthen surveillance at entry and exit points and ensure smooth movement of visitors during the Ravan-Dahan programme.
