28 September,2009 08:50 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
Organisers cancel traditional event due to security reasons and upcoming elections
It is a sight etched in everybody's mind. Every year on Dussehra, an effigy of Ravana is burnt to celebrate the victory of good over evil. Today, on Dussehra, however, things will be different, as Pune decides to abandon the age-old tradition of burning a Ravana effigy.
Plans called off
Balasaheb Amrale, chief of the Navratri Mandals in Pune, said the police have appealed not to burn effigies due to security reasons, the upcoming Assembly elections and the swine flu pandemic. Sangeeta Tiwari, president, Maharashtrian Uttar Bharatiya Ekata Mandal (MUBEM), said their grand plans to bring down a 22-foot Ravana effigy symoblising swine flu with arrows from Ram, Laxman and Hanuman have been cancelled.
The event takes place at the B J Medical Grounds and at Arun Kumar Vaidya Stadium at Hadapsar every year.
Ravindra Sengaonkar, DCP, Special Branch, Pune police, told MiD DAY, "So far, nobody has approached us for permission to organise the Ravan dahan programme."
Prashant Ranpise, chief, fire brigade, PMC, said, "Only the Patwardhan Baug area has applied for permission. We will give the go ahead only after the organisers show us the police permission."
Burning of the effigies will take place only in housing societies. The Patwardhan Baug Society will burn an eight-ft Ravana effigy and another 10-ft tall effigy will be burnt at Khadki.
