77th Vijayadashami Festival Celebrated with Grandeur in Udaipur

Udaipur, The city of lakes witnessed a spectacular celebration of the 77th Vijayadashami Festival on Thursday, organized jointly by Shri Sanatan Dharma Seva Samiti and Shri Balochistan Panchayat. The grand festivities, held at Maharana Bhupal Stadium and its surrounding areas, drew thousands of enthusiastic participants, creating an atmosphere of devotion, culture, and communal harmony.

Traditional Rituals and Sacred Commencement

Narendra Kathuria, Secretary of the Sanatan Dharma Seva Samiti, informed that as per age-old tradition, a Mundan ceremony of children was performed at the Sanatan Dharma Temple, Shaktinagar, in the morning, continuing till noon. At 3:30 PM, actors depicting Lord Shri Ram and Shri Laxman offered prayers to Lord Shiva. Guruji Shailesh Kumar Brijwani then performed the Vijay Tilak, formally inaugurating the festival with spiritual and cultural fervor.

Colorful Procession Enthralls the City

Panchayat Vice President Gurmukh Kasturi and General Secretary Vijay Ahuja shared that a grand procession began from Sanatan Dharma Temple at 3:45 PM. The streets of Udaipur came alive with vibrant tableaux of Lord Ram, Mata Sita, Laxman, and Hanuman, mesmerizing the spectators. Traditional drums, nagaras, and bands added rhythmic energy. The procession included impressive tableaux by organizations such as Mewar Paliwal Samaj, Aashray Samaj, Vipra Foundation, Mewar Mustache Club, ISKCON, Hare Krishna Movement, Bhopalpura Yuva Sangathan, and Max Torque Superbikes Group, each spreading cultural messages and festive spirit. The procession reached the stadium at 5:45 PM, where audiences enjoyed artistic performances by the West Zone Cultural Centre, raising the fervor with chants of “Jai Shri Ram.”

Ravan Dahan and Dazzling Fireworks

Committee member Hemant Gakreja described the climax of the festival—the magnificent Ravan Dahan at 6:30 PM. A 70-feet effigy of Ravan, along with Meghnad and Kumbhkaran, decorated with modern lighting and pyrotechnics, was set ablaze. The crowd lit up the stadium with their mobile flashlights, creating a breathtaking spectacle “as if stars had descended to earth.” The highlight came when Guruji Brijwani applied tilak to Lord Ram, followed by the symbolic burning of a 100-feet Lanka by Hanuman, amid thunderous chants of “Jai Shri Ram.” The fireworks lit up the night sky, enthralling the audience. Police and committee members ensured proper crowd management and safety.

Presence of Dignitaries Added Glory

Ramesh Taldar of Shri Balochistan Panchayat informed that many prominent dignitaries graced the occasion. Among them were Guruji Shailesh Kumar Brijwani, Udaipur MP Mannalal Ravat, Rajya Sabha MP Chunnilal Garasiya, Udaipur City MLA Tarachand Jain, Udaipur Rural MLA Phoolsingh Meena, former MP Raghuveer Singh Meena, BJP City President Gajpal Singh Rathore, Congress District President Fateh Singh Rathore, Collector Namit Mehta, Municipal Commissioner Abhishek Khanna, Singhal Foundation Trustee Arvind Singhal, West Zone Cultural Centre Director Furqan Khan, IG & SP Yogesh Goyal, ADM, Additional SP, District Sports Officer Mahesh Paliwal, former MLA Trilok Purbia, and several social workers including Bhiman Das Talreja.

Municipal Corporation Udaipur and district administration extended strong support in traffic, crowd, and security management. Special parking arrangements and LED screens were installed to ensure that all spectators could witness the grandeur of Ravan Dahan and cultural programs.

Message of Vijayadashami

Vice President of Shri Balochistan Panchayat, Jitendra Talreja, emphasized that Vijayadashami is not only about burning effigies of Ravan but symbolizes the triumph of truth over falsehood and good over evil. Committee member Manoj Kataria appealed to citizens to adopt the ideals of Lord Shri Ram, promoting unity and brotherhood in society.

The event concluded with the stage being conducted by Durgesh Chandwani and Meenakshi Kasturi Kalra, leaving behind a festive spirit of joy, devotion, and cultural pride across the city.