Nagpur: A towering 75-foot effigy of Ravan going up in flames marked a historic milestone in Nagpur’s Dussehra celebrations, as Kasturchand Park hosted the 75th edition of the city’s iconic Ravan Dahan ceremony on Vijayadashami on October 20. The platinum jubilee celebration, organised by the Sanatan Dharma Yuvak Sabha, brought together thousands of spectators for an evening of religious fervour, cultural performances and spectacular visual effects, reaffirming the event’s place among Central India’s most prominent Dussehra attractions.
The landmark celebration featured three imposing effigies, a 75-foot Ravan, a 65-foot Kumbhakarna and a 55-foot Meghnad, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The scale of the installations and the elaborate programme added special significance to the occasion, which marked 75 years of a tradition deeply embedded in Nagpur’s cultural calendar.
The five-day platinum jubilee festivities, held from October 16 to 20, combined traditional religious observances with modern entertainment. Cultural programmes, an audio-visual presentation of the Ramleela and a grand fire show formed key attractions, drawing families and devotees to Kasturchand Park.
A 75-year tradition reaches a milestone
The 75th edition was more than an annual effigy-burning ceremony. It represented the continuation of a long-standing public celebration that has brought generations of Nagpurians together on Dussehra.
The Sanatan Dharma Yuvak Sabha organised the event with a combination of religious rituals, cultural performances and elaborate stage presentations. The audio-visual Ramleela offered audiences a dramatic retelling of episodes from the Ramayana before the traditional climax of Ravan Dahan.
The giant effigies of Ravan, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad remained the central attraction. Their different heights created a striking spectacle and reinforced the traditional narrative associated with Vijayadashami, the victory of righteousness over arrogance and evil.
The celebrations also incorporated a grand fire show, adding a contemporary visual element to the traditional proceedings. The blend of religious storytelling, cultural entertainment and pyrotechnic effects helped position the platinum jubilee event as a major public attraction.
Kasturchand Park once again served as the focal point of the city’s Dussehra festivities, drawing large crowds from Nagpur and surrounding areas. The event’s 75th edition gave the occasion added historical and cultural significance.
Nara-Jaripatka, Awasthi Square witness celebrations
While Kasturchand Park remained the principal venue, large-scale Ravan Dahan programmes were also organised at other locations, including Nara-Jaripatka and Awasthi Square.
These parallel celebrations reflected the widespread popularity of the Dussehra tradition across Nagpur. With multiple venues attracting spectators simultaneously, police and traffic authorities faced the challenge of managing crowd movement, keeping access routes clear and ensuring that celebrations proceeded peacefully.
The concentration of crowds at major public grounds and roads around the venues required coordinated arrangements to prevent congestion and maintain public safety.
3,500 police personnel deployed across city
The celebrations coincided with the 70th Dhammachakra Pravartan Day observance at Deekshabhoomi, along with other Vijayadashami programmes and public gatherings. With several major events taking place simultaneously, Nagpur Police mounted an extensive security operation across the city.
Approximately 3,500 police personnel were earmarked for deployment, according to reports on the security arrangements. The force was tasked with crowd management, surveillance, traffic regulation and maintaining law and order at major religious and cultural venues.
The security plan covered prominent gathering points, including Kasturchand Park, Deekshabhoomi, Dragon Palace in Kamptee, the RSS headquarters and other Ravan Dahan venues. The simultaneous events required police units to coordinate their deployment according to the expected crowd density and local security requirements.
Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil oversaw the preparations, with senior officers monitoring arrangements for the high-footfall celebrations.
AI cameras, drones and bomb detection squads on alert
Technology formed a significant part of the security arrangements. Authorities used AI-assisted monitoring, CCTV networks and drone cameras to observe crowded locations and support surveillance across event zones.
Bomb detection squads and dog units were also included in the security plan as preventive measures at major gatherings. Intelligence teams and reserve personnel were kept within the wider security framework to respond to emerging requirements.
The combination of technology and ground deployment was intended to help police monitor crowd movement, identify potential security concerns and respond quickly to incidents.
Given the scale of the gatherings, surveillance was particularly important at entry and exit points, approach roads and areas where large groups of spectators were likely to congregate. Police personnel were also required to maintain vigilance throughout the celebrations rather than only during the final effigy-burning ceremony.
Traffic restrictions to keep crowds moving
Traffic management was another major component of the arrangements, particularly around Kasturchand Park, where large crowds were expected to converge during the evening.
Temporary road closures and strategic diversions were enforced around key event perimeters from the afternoon into late night. Restrictions on roads approaching Samvidhan Chowk were among the measures reported for the Kasturchand Park programme, with motorists directed to use alternative routes during the designated period.
The arrangements were intended to prevent vehicles from entering congested areas, facilitate pedestrian movement and keep emergency access routes available. Traffic personnel were deployed to guide motorists, manage diversions and reduce the risk of gridlock as spectators arrived and departed.
The challenge was compounded by simultaneous gatherings at other venues across the city, requiring traffic management beyond the immediate vicinity of Kasturchand Park.
Tradition and technology converge
Nagpur’s 75th Ravan Dahan celebration brought together a long-standing cultural tradition and a modern approach to organising large public events. The giant effigies, Ramleela presentation and fire show provided the spectacle, while extensive police deployment, surveillance systems and traffic diversions formed the operational backbone of the celebrations.
The platinum jubilee also underscored Kasturchand Park’s enduring importance as a major venue for the city’s public festivities. With additional Ravan Dahan programmes at Nara-Jaripatka and Awasthi Square, Dussehra celebrations extended across multiple neighbourhoods.
The occasion carried its customary message of the triumph of good over evil, while the scale of the event and the security arrangements highlighted the logistical demands of hosting large gatherings in a city observing several major public events on the same day.
