Vijayadashami Celebrated with Grandeur at Banaras Locomotive Works in Varanasi

Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), formerly known as Banaras Locomotive Works’ predecessor Diesel Locomotive Works, celebrated Vijayadashami with traditional enthusiasm and grandeur on Tuesday. The celebrations featured a spectacular Ramleela performance followed by the burning of towering effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad at the BLW Sports Stadium in Varanasi.

The annual event brought together senior railway officials, employees, their families and local residents to celebrate the festival symbolising the victory of good over evil.

The programme commenced with the aarti of Lord Shri Ram, Goddess Janaki and Lord Lakshman by the chief guest, BLW General Manager Ashutosh Pant, accompanied by other senior officials.

Extending Vijayadashami greetings to the gathering, Pant wished everyone a healthy, happy and prosperous life. He highlighted the significance of the festival and urged people to embrace its timeless message of truth, righteousness and goodness.

He said Vijayadashami symbolises the victory of truth over falsehood, righteousness over evil, humility over arrogance and goodness over wrongdoing. He encouraged everyone to incorporate these values into their daily lives.

Ramleela Depicts Major Episodes from the Ramayana

A major attraction of the celebration was the elaborate Ramleela performance directed by S. D. Singh. The dramatic presentation brought several important episodes from the Ramayana to life, captivating the audience with its emotional scenes and theatrical presentation.

The performance began with the episode of Lord Ram’s exile and proceeded through the abduction of Goddess Sita by Ravana and the search for her by the Vanara army. Other key sequences included the burning of Lanka by Lord Hanuman, his return after locating Sita and Vibhishana’s surrender to Lord Ram.

The audience also witnessed the dramatic Angad–Ravana dialogue, the episode of Lakshman Shakti, and the battles involving Kumbhakarna and Meghnad. The emotional scene depicting Sulochana’s lament added a poignant dimension to the performance.

The climactic scenes featured the final battle between Lord Ram and Ravana. The revelation by Vibhishana of the secret behind Ravana’s death led to the concluding episode in which Lord Ram defeated Ravana, bringing the Ramleela to an end.

The performance conveyed the enduring message that arrogance, injustice and evil ultimately give way to truth and righteousness.

Giant Effigies Burnt Amid Spectacular Fireworks

The highlight of the evening was the burning of the three towering effigies, which drew considerable excitement from spectators.

The effigies measured:

• Ravana: 70 feet tall

• Kumbhakarna: 65 feet tall

• Meghnad: 60 feet tall

The effigies were set ablaze amid an impressive fireworks display, illuminating the stadium and creating a festive atmosphere. As the flames engulfed the figures, the venue resonated with chants of “Jai Shri Ram”.

The colourful fireworks and enthusiastic participation of the audience added to the grandeur of the occasion. The ritual burning of the effigies symbolised the triumph of good over evil and served as the culmination of the Vijayadashami celebrations.

The event reflected the continued importance of traditional cultural festivities within the BLW community, bringing railway personnel and local residents together in a shared celebration.

Senior Railway Officials and Employees Attend

Several senior BLW officials and representatives attended the celebrations, including Principal Chief Electrical Engineer Manish Kumar, Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer Vivek Sheel, Principal Chief Materials Manager Alok Agrawal, Principal Chief Engineer Ram Janam, Principal Chief Personnel Officer Lalji Chaudhary and Principal Chief Medical Officer Dr Sunil Kumar.

Chief Vigilance Officer Ankur Chandra and Inspector General-cum-Principal Chief Security Commissioner Devraj Kumar Maurya were also present.

Ram Janam Chaubey, Chief Mechanical Engineer (Production and Marketing) and chairman of the Vijayadashami Committee, attended the programme alongside Public Relations Officer Rajesh Kumar and committee general secretary Anoop Singh Vats.

Members of the employees’ council, including Naveen Kumar Sinha and Sushil Kumar Singh, along with other senior officials, committee members, BLW employees and local residents, participated in the event.

The Vijayadashami celebrations at BLW once again highlighted the cultural significance of the festival, combining traditional Ramleela storytelling, community participation and the symbolic destruction of evil through the burning of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad effigies.