Ravan Vadh celebrations pass off peacefully in Patna

Ravan Vadh celebrations today passed off peacefully with the administration and security forces keeping a strict vigil to ensure there is no repeat of last year's stampede at Patna's Gandhi Maidan which took 33 lives.
Effigies of Ravan, Kumbhakarna and and Meghnad were burnt around 5.30 PM at Gandhi Maidan, followed by bursting of crackers. Eco-friendly crackers were used this time to burn the effigies.
Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind, who was the chief guest at the event, greeted people on the occasion.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD president Lalu Prasad, BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi and a host of senior leaders also greeted the people on Dussehra.

"Happy Dussehra - may this festival enrich our lives with goodness and compassion," tweeted Kumar, who could not attend Ravan Vadh celebrations due to enforcement of Model Code of Conduct in the state where elections are currently underway.
"Ravan Vadh celebrations passed off peacefully... We had made elaborate security arrangement this time," Patna Division Commissioner Anand Kishore told PTI.
Poor facilities, including poor lighting arrangements, had led to a stampede during the Ravan Vadh celebrations on October 3 last year. The investigations later confirmed that inadequate lighting, a broken cattle trap located right in front of the Gandhi Maidan gate and an unattended cable wire had triggered panic leading to the stampede.