The Kota Dussehra Mela 2023 will start in Kota from today. On Vijayadashami, a 75-foot-high Ravana effigy has been erected in the Dussehra grounds of Kota. There are effigies of Kumbhkaran and Meghnath 50-50 feet in height, which look very attractive.

Kota Dussehra Mela 2023 is a 25-day religious event held at Kota Dussehra Ground. It includes:

• Ramlila: The city’s municipal corporation organizing the Ramlila at seven locations in Kota.

• Ravana Dahan: Today Ravana’s effigy stands firm in the Kota Dusherra Mela Ground along with the effigies of Kumbkaran and Meghnath. This year Ravan’s effigy is 75 feet tall and 55 feet effigies of Kumbkaran and Meghnath have been made.

• Cultural programs with performances by well-known artists

• Villagers dressed in traditional clothing and joined long processions to pray to Lord Rama

• A swing market has also been set up in this fair and some swings have also been started.

• Along with this trade fair markets and exhibitions are also been set up.

Effigies weigh more than 40 tons

The weight of the effigies of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbhkaran is more than 40 tonnes. These have been prepared with the help of 1 thousand bamboo. In making Ravana, about one and a half quintals of scrap, 2 quintals of twine, one and a half quintals of flour, 70 kg of gunny and 1 quintal of colour paper have been used. 15 artisans from Delhi have prepared these effigies after about a month of hard work. The help of three cranes were taken to erect these effigies. The effigies were erected late at night on Monday.

Ravan Dahan

Ravan Dahan will be performed traditionally on Tuesday at Dusherra Mela Ground. Mela officer Anurag Bhargava said that the traditional procession of Lord Shri Lakshminarayan Maharaj would leave Garh Palace Kota Ravana Dahan at 6 pm as per the auspicious time.

There will be 10 live Jhakia in the procession of Lord Lakshminarayan. Five horse buggies, two elephants and 31 horses will be present.

Scenes of the war between the Vanar Sena and Ravana’s army will be present in the procession. The Jhanki of Kali Mata will also be decorated. While war drums will be seen playing on the camel cart, a Jhanki of the war between Ravana and Jatayu will also be decorated.

Kajri dance and Kachchi Ghodi dance will be showcased by cultural groups. During this time, bands spreading melodious sounds, bagpipe bands with trumpets, army bands, and police bands will also be present.

The procession will reach the Mela Ground via the traditional route. Jwara puja and Sitamata’s paane puja will be performed on Vijayshree Rangmanch at Dusherra ground.

After this, Ravana’s effigy will be burnt in the time period between 7.21 to 8.41 p.m. Before this, the princely period Darikhana will be decorated in the Garh Palace. Along with Ravana, the effigy of Meghnad and Kumbhakarna will also be burnt at Kota Dusherra Mela Ground.

Trade Fair at Kota Dussehra Mela 2023

Kota Dussehra Mela 2023 is being organized under the joint aegis of Kota North Municipal Corporation and Kota South Municipal Corporation, the Municipal Corporation has got good revenue in allotment of shops.

The process of allotment of shops in the fair was started by the Municipal Corporation on October 13 and till now more than 600 shops have been allotted through auction with permanent shopkeepers, due to which the Municipal Corporation earned an income of Rs 2 crore 80 lakh.

The auction process of Jhula Market and vacant shops in West Zone, North Zone has also been completed. Along with this, cultural programs will also be organized daily in the fair in which film artists, singers and folk artists will give their attractive presentations.