Aurangabad, Oct 25:
This year the citizens celebrated Dussehra with the same enthusiasm, following the rules and regulations of Covid-19. Some devotees were satisfied taking blessings of Goddess from outside the closed temples, while others avoided personal meetings and greeted each other over calls and social media. Most of the citizens stayed at home all day and celebrated Dussehra.
There was no Karnapura fair this year. There was no pulling of the chariot of Lord Balaji, nor Ravan dahan at Ramlila ground in Cidco in the evening. But the enthusiasm of the people of the city did not diminish. According to the annual tradition, many people visited Karnapura today to pay homage to the Goddess, but the police barricaded the devotees at Panchavati Chowk. Police were urging people not to crowd as the temple is closed. Responding to the appeal, the devotees were returning home. A similar situation existed outside the temples of the goddess in different parts of the city. Worship was performed in all the temples in the morning. In the evening aarti of Lord Balaji at Karnapura, was performed. No rath yatra and palanquin was taken out from Balaji temple at Rajabazar and Balaji temple at Kirana Chawdi. People were aware that Ravanadahan will not be held at Ramlila ground at Cidco. As a result, there was no crowd on the ground today. Still some people were seen coming to the ground in the evening with their families. There were many such families in the city who did not leave their homes and celebrated Dussehra by greeting their relatives and friends over calls and social media. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh celebrated Vijayadashami in the morning in the presence of a handful of volunteers in every Shakha in the city.