Ravana Effigies, with Godmen, Go up in Smoke in Punjab & Haryana

On some of the effigies of godmen, the photograph of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was put up.

File image of effigy of demon king Ravana going up in flames in Jammu. Image used for representational purposes. 

(Photo: AP)

Effigies of self-styled godmen were burnt at a few places along with the effigies of Ravana and others to symbolise the victory of good over evil as Dussehra was celebrated across Punjab and Haryana. These festivities were held amid tight security arrangements at all places.

The effigies of babas or self-styled godmen were included among the effigies of Ravana and others this time to highlight the wrong-doings of these babas who take people for a ride in the name of religion.

On some of the effigies of godmen, the photograph of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the disgraced chief of Dera Sacha Sauda sect who was recently convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for rape of two female disciples, was put up.

A festive spirit prevailed at many places in Punjab and Haryana, including Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Bathinda, Jalandhar and Gurdaspur, Ambala, Hisar, Rohtak and Karnal and in Chandigarh.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh attended the Dussehra celebrations at Pathankot town in north Punjab.

In Chandigarh and the adjoining towns of Panchkula and Mohali, the effigies were burnt at a number of locations. The tallest effigy of Ravana in the tri-city was set on fire in Sector 46 of Chandigarh.