Organisers in IP Extension wanted to send out a message against the social evil
Organisers in IP Extension wanted to send out a message against the social evil
While the collective fate of Ravan, Kumbhkarn and Meghnad had been sealed by Valmiki many centuries ago, organisers of the Indraprastha Vistar Ramlila in east Delhi decided to exorcise a demon, at least symbolically, that has been plaguing the country for a while now. 
Demonic proportions: The effigy of honour killing at IP Extension
At Sunday's Dussehra Celebrations, residents of IP Extension saw a fourth figure, representing honour killing, burnt to the ground, along with the demon king and his kin.
The organisers wanted to use the auspicious occasion to send out a much-needed message against the social evil. The fourth effigy called honour killing was the first to be burnt followed by the asura brigade -Ravan, Kumbhakarn and Meghnad.
"We always have a theme for Dussehra. This time we decided to go with honour killing. It is a shame to have a series of murders in the name of fake honour. Society has to move ahead and all these illogical things have to be booted out," said Jeewesh Sharma, organising member of the Indraprastha Vistar Ramlila Committee.
While the figures of Ravan and his two associates were between 50 and 60 feet in height, the honour killing effigy measured about eight to ten feet and had a large moustache.u00a0
"We have had themes like corruption and price rise previously, but the series of honour killing cases this year is startling. It is a heinous crime; people like us who have families are involved and support the crime. We took it up as a step to protest the issue," said a member of the Ramlila.
The Indraprastha Vistar Committee Ramlila is one of the more famous ones in the city. "We did not make our effigies very tall as we have to ensure the safety of the pandal. It's a huge risk to have oversized effigies; they need a lot of space when they burn and fall all over the place. The honour killing effigy had to be lit first as it must be stamped out at the earliest," said Jeewesh Sharma.
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| Good VS Evil |
| President Pratibha Patil, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi joined thousands of Delhiites to celebrate the festival and attended Dussehra celebrations at Ramlila Ground and Red Fort which witnessed a massive turnout. Singh, Sonia and Rahul shot the arrows at the effigy of Ravana during the function at the Ramlila Grounds. |
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