Delhi was dressed for celebration, but the skies decided otherwise. Just when the Dussehra celebration fever was peaking, the Delhi rains came crashing down. Pandals that had been buzzing for days turned soggy in minutes. Effigies stood half-ready, the mud swallowing shoes, and traffic outside added to the chaos.

The biggest shock? East Delhi’s Indraprastha Ramlila Committee had to cancel the Prime Minister’s visit. Imagine - days of rehearsals, sets built with pride, lights strung across the grounds, and in a matter of hours, organisers saying, “We can’t risk it.” Rarely do you see Dussehra in the capital bowing to weather like this.

A Festival Soaked in Puddles

If you’ve seen Delhi during Dussehra before, you know the drill: booming fireworks, Ravana towering over crowds, jalebis and samosas on every corner. But this year, the Delhi rains flipped the script.

Water seeped into tents, sound systems fizzled, and wide-open spaces became swimming pools of mud.

Families who stepped out for the night rushed back as skies opened up. Street vendors, counting on the evening for bumper sales, stood under makeshift covers, watching their carts drip. For kids, who had been begging to see fireworks all week, the night felt unfair.

Some Celebrations Survived

Not every Dussehra celebration folded. In smaller parks and colonies, organisers said, “Rain or not, Ravana will fall.” Plastic sheets went up, umbrellas clustered together, and even soggy crackers got lit somehow.

In West Delhi, a Ramlila committee staged a shorter play under a leaking tent. The actors smiled through it, their voices carrying over the sound of rain. The crowd clapped louder, almost to drown out the thunder.

Why So Much Rain?

Delhiites kept asking the same thing: “October me barish kaisi?” Meteorologists later explained that the monsoon in Delhi hadn’t really left yet. Shifts in climate made the retreat unpredictable. The result? A festival colliding with late showers.

This wasn’t just an inconvenience. It showed how fragile our big open-air events are when the rainy weather refuses to cooperate. One heavy spell, and weeks of planning collapse.

How Delhi Reacted

Scroll through social media, and you’ll see it all: drenched pandals, flooded grounds, jokes about Ravana being “washed away” instead of burnt. Memes made people laugh, but the disappointment was obvious. For Delhiites, the Dussehra celebrations in Delhi aren’t only about effigies; they’re about togetherness, kids on shoulders, families eating street food under the lights. This year, most of that was missing.

At a chai stall in Laxmi Nagar, one uncle said it best: “Barish ne Ravana ko jeetne nahi diya, bas humein rukne pe majboor kar diya.” (The rain didn’t let Ravana win, it just forced us to pause.)

Lessons for Tomorrow

If 2025 proved anything, it’s that festivals can’t assume clear skies anymore. Organisers may have to think differently: waterproof stages, better drainage, maybe even backup indoor plans. The Delhi rainfall made it clear - tradition is strong, but safety comes first.

Some committees are already talking about hybrid formats: smaller outdoor events combined with digital streaming. Of course, nothing can match the roar of a live effigy burning, but adaptation might be the only way to keep the spirit intact.

The Spirit Stays

Despite the disruption, Delhi’s spirit wasn’t drowned. In neighbourhood corners, small Ravana effigies were burnt under tarps. Families exchanged sweets indoors, and Ramayana skits were performed on makeshift stages. Children still cheered, even if their fireworks were just sparklers under balconies.

In a way, this is what the festival is about resilience. The Dussehra celebration may have been cut short, but the belief that good triumphs over evil? That remained untouched.

Conclusion

2025 will be remembered as the year when the Delhi rains stole the spotlight from Ravana. It was messy, wet, and disappointing for many. But it was also a reminder - festivals aren’t only about grandeur; they’re about faith, patience, and community.

The effigies may have burned smaller this year, but the spirit of Dussehra? Still as strong as ever.

The United Indian View

At The United Indian, this wasn’t just weather ruining a festival. It was resilience in real time. People still came out, still prayed, still clapped when Ravana fell - even if it was a soggy version of what they imagined.

Yes, the Dussehra celebrations in Delhi were disrupted. Yes, the Delhi rains forced cancellations and smaller crowds. But faith didn’t go away. The festival was still there - in the chants, in the soaked volunteers, in kids laughing at muddy shoes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

1. Why was the Prime Minister’s visit cancelled?

Because the ground was a mess. The rain turned it into puddles, wires were at risk, and honestly, it wasn’t safe for anyone - not the PM, not the public.

2. How did the rains affect Dussehra in Delhi?

Imagine waiting all year to see Ravana burn and then standing in ankle-deep water. Big shows got called off, traffic piled up, and people just gave up and went home.

3. Was this year’s Delhi rainfall unusual?

Totally. October in Delhi is supposed to be cool and clear. Instead, the monsoon in Delhi hung around longer than it should have. Nobody expected showers this heavy during the festival.

4. How did people react?

Mixed bag. Some were angry, some cracked jokes and made memes about Ravana being “washed away.” But most felt let down - festivals are about gathering outside, and that joy was missing.

5. What can be done in future festivals?

Organisers will have to get smarter - waterproof pandals, covered stages, backup halls. You can’t stop the Delhi rains, but you can plan so the show still goes on.