Early Celebrations: Drunk Youngsters In Bhopal Burn Ravan Effigy On Dusshera Morning

Last Updated:October 02, 2025, 15:10 IST

A group of drunk youngsters set fire to a Ravan effigy on Thursday morning, hours before the Ravan Dahan ceremony, and fled the area.

A Ravan effigy in Bhopal was burnt in the morning, hours before the ceremony. (Photo: X)

A group of intoxicated youngsters in Bhopal began their Dusshera celebrations too early by setting fire to a Raavan effigy at 6 in the morning on Thursday. The men were reportedly drunk after spending the previous night partying.

Organisers of the Ravan Dahan ceremony, which generally takes place in the evening, were in for a shock on Thursday when they saw the demon king’s effigy set ablaze in the Bagh Mungaliya neighbourhood, hours before the ceremony was supposed to take place.

A video of the effigy burning went viral, in which a man was heard saying, “They were in a red car. They fled in that direction. They were loitering here for a long time. We opened the gate and I went here. In this time, they set fire on the effigy and ran away.”

“Some women were also in the group. They were drinking and smoking cigarettes. It was a new car, without a registration number,” he was heard saying. Locals called the police for action in this incident.

The grand effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnada had been installed by the Atal Dussehra Utsav Committee at Misrod Ground on Wednesday night, with the celebration planned for Thursday evening. The incident disrupted pain-staking efforts for Ravan Dahan and shocked everyone in the area.

“We have given all footage to the police. This was the third year of Ravana Dahan in our area. We have ordered a new effigy of Ravana. It will be installed by the day. Celebration in the evening will be done as per the schedule,” the corporator of the ward, Jitendra Shukla, told the Times of India.

Falling on the tenth day of Ashvin, right after the nine days of Navratri, Dussehra carries deep cultural significance. The burning of Ravan’s effigy symbolises the triumph of good over evil on the occasion of Dusshera, but it is generally supposed to happen at night.

The burning of Ravan is considered a truly spectacular event. Every year, thousands of people gather with their families and friends. Beyond the effigy burning, Ravn Dahan sites are adorned with vibrant lights, funfair rides, and tempting food stalls.

About the Author

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More

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