Ashes of effigies of Ravana immersed in Ganges

The restaging of Ramayana and festival of victory of good over bad concluded with the burning of effigies of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbhakarna. However, many people of the region continue religious rituals until the immersion of ashes in sacred water bodies, along with an elaborate puja.

Office-bearers and activists of the Ramleela and Dasehra committees of this part of Malwa were reported to have visited Haridwar to immerse ‘ashes’ (remains of effigy) of Ravana and his brothers in Ganges and perform puja, seeking the wellbeing of the residents.

The chairman of Ahmedgarh Trimurti Kala Manch, Deepak Sharma, said artists, volunteers and activists had visited Hardwar to perform the last rites of Ravana, who was cremated on Dasehra. Chandan Sharma, who played the role of Ravana during Ramleela, said he had been visiting Haridwar every year to immerse the ashes of Ravana in Ganges and to perform puja, seeking peace and tranquillity in the region.

Babha Pandit, when contacted, claimed people have been visiting Haridwar to perform puja to pray for peace and prosperity across the region. “Earlier they used to come in groups and stay for a couple of days during which they performed puja and organised a bhandara. However, a majority of people who come from Punjab return home the same day after the immersion of the ashes and puja,” he said.

Rajesh Tewari, a preacher, said there were different views about the practice of immersing ashes in whose souls, according to mythology, had reached Vaikunth after being killed by Lord Rama.

“However, a majority of preachers from North India advocate the ritual of immersing ashes and performing puja to seek blessings of incarnations of Vishnu,” said Tewari.