TFP Bureau, Raipur, October 13, 2024: Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai attended the Ravana Dahan program at the Shri Dudhdhari Math Ravanabhatha Dussehra ground today as part of the Vijayadashami celebrations. During the event, he highlighted the festival’s message of abandoning evil and embracing the path of truth, and announced a grant of Rs 50 lakh for the beautification of the Ravanabhatha Dussehra ground. Before the symbolic burning of Ravana, the Chief Minister participated in the aarti of Lord Balaji.
Addressing the crowd, Chief Minister Sai extended his greetings to the people of Chhattisgarh and thanked the Sarvajanik Dussehra Utsav Samiti for organizing the event. He expressed joy at participating in the 170th Ravana Dahan celebration on this historic ground.
“The festival of Vijayadashami symbolizes the victory of truth over falsehood and good over evil. This year’s celebration is especially significant as Lord Ram has been installed in a grand temple,” Sai said. He added that Chhattisgarh, the maternal home of Lord Ram, is a land of great cultural heritage.
**A Call to Overcome Inner Evils**
The Chief Minister urged the public to overcome the inner “Ravana”—representing lust, anger, greed, pride, and envy—to foster peace and brotherhood. “We need to eliminate the Ravana within us to establish Ram-Raj in Chhattisgarh,” he remarked.
During the event, Chief Minister Sai also announced an allocation of Rs 50 lakh for the development and beautification of the Dussehra ground at Shri Dudhdhari Math Ravanabhatha, marking a significant investment in preserving the cultural site.
**Honoring Heritage While Moving Toward Development**
MP Brijmohan Agarwal praised the 170-year-old tradition of celebrating Dussehra at Ravana Bhatha and emphasized the importance of preserving India’s heritage. He echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of balancing development with cultural preservation. Agarwal also expressed hopes that the Navratri prayers would bring prosperity and happiness to all.
The event was attended by several prominent figures, including former MP Sunil Soni, former minister and MLA Kawasi Lakhma, and members of the public Dussehra festival committee. A large crowd gathered to witness the traditional burning of Ravana, marking the end of the nine-day Navratri festival.
