Ayodhya’s Dussehra Controversy: Police Ban Burning of India’s Tallest Ravana Effigy

Ayodhya (The Uttam Hindu): Tensions have erupted in Ayodhya ahead of this year’s Dussehra festival, as the burning of India’s tallest Ravana effigy faces a major roadblock. The police administration has cited safety concerns and imposed a ban on the burning of the 240-foot Ravana and the 190-foot Meghnad and Kumbhakarna effigies, just days before the festival. Construction of these massive effigies was nearly complete, leaving organizers stunned.

The grand event was organized by the Film Artists Ramleela Committee at Ram Katha Park, where skilled artisans from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan had been working for over a month. Ayodhya’s City Police Officer (CO) Devesh Chaturvedi explained that due to safety regulations, permission could not be granted for effigies of such extreme heights. Officials also noted that no prior approval had been sought for the construction or burning of these effigies. When police discovered the ongoing construction during routine patrols, they immediately halted the work.

Organizers expressed shock and dismay at the sudden prohibition. Subhash Malik, founder-president of the Film Artists Ramleela Committee, said the project cost millions of rupees and that halting the burn just three days before Dussehra would waste all the effort and investment. He added, “Not burning Ravana on Dussehra is considered inauspicious. I am a small BJP worker and have been organizing grand Ramleelas in Ayodhya for the past seven years.”

Malik has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to intervene and allow the effigies to be burned at a safe location, ensuring the traditional festival proceedings are not disrupted.

The controversy highlights the delicate balance between festival traditions and public safety, sparking debates over whether large-scale effigy burning events should be permitted in densely populated urban spaces.