# Chief Minister To Trigger Jakhu Ravana Effigy Burning Via Remote For Dussehra Celebrations

> Dussehra festivities are set for October 20 at Shimla's Jakhu Temple, where Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will ignite effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad using a remote control.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Himachal Pradesh · **Published:** 2026-10-20 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/himachal-pradesh/dussehra-para-jakhu-mndira-men-chief-minister-karenge-putalon-ka-dahana-takaniki-atishabaji-banegi-mukhya-akarshana-49712 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Jakhu Temple, Shimla Dussehra, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Ravana Dahan, HRTC, Himachal Pradesh

All preparations have been finalized across Himachal Pradesh's capital, Shimla, for the celebration of Dussehra. The grand effigy burning ceremony will take place on the evening of Tuesday, October 20, within the premises of the renowned Jakhu Temple located on the city's highest ridge. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will attend the event and set ablaze the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad via a remote control mechanism. In line with the principles of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan campaign, the overall height of the structures has been kept lower this year to reduce environmental impact. Previous editions of the celebration at Jakhu featured effigies measuring more than 55 feet tall, whereas the primary Ravana figure this year has been reduced to 40 feet, noted by its builders as standing at 45 feet.

## Technological Visuals And Mechanical Water Fountains
Attendees and travelers visiting Jakhu can anticipate an assortment of specialized pyrotechnics and mechanical visual effects during the effigy burning. The towering Ravana figure has been styled in detailed battle armor. Once ignited, dramatic effects will simulate fire emerging directly from Ravana's heads, tears streaming down from the facial contours, and vibrant fireworks bursting outward from ruptured segments of the head. Alongside the fire display, a concealed mechanism will release a jet of water from behind the structure to offer an unusual dual visual spectacle. Flanking the central figure, the accompanying effigies of Kumbhakarna and Meghnad both stand at a uniform height of 35 feet.

## Ramlila Tableaux From Nabha, Dev Dance, And Daylong Feasts
Prior to the sunset effigy burning, a colorful cultural procession of Ramlila tableaux will start from the Nabha area and advance along mountain routes toward Jakhu Temple. The temple grounds will host devotional Dev dances throughout the day, immersing spectators in regional sacred traditions. For visiting pilgrims, an open community kitchen feast will operate without pause from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm. The district administrative machinery has implemented structural travel and crowd arrangements across the hill town. Apart from the central event at Jakhu, Dussehra festivities are also scheduled at multiple regional grounds across Shimla, including Nabha, Sankat Mochan, Baluganj, New Shimla, and Summer Hill.

## 11 Additional HRTC Taxis Arranged For Devotee Transit
To assist commuters and pilgrims navigating the steep ascent to Jakhu Temple, the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) issued directives to operate 11 special additional taxis on October 20. Out of this supplementary vehicle pool, seven taxis have been designated to ferry passengers from The Ridge, while four vehicles will run shuttles directly from Navbahar. This service aims to ensure hassle-free transit for both local worshippers and incoming tourists seeking to witness the rituals and head back down safely afterward.

## 20 Skilled Artisans From Meerut Toil Over 20 Days
Crafting these monumental effigies required extensive labor from an artisan group traveling from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. A team comprising 20 specialized craftsmen worked steadily over a period of 20 consecutive days to finish the structural frames. Lead maker Mohammad Azim stated that the crew laboured for nearly three weeks to erect the 45-foot Ravana structure along with the twin 35-foot effigies representing Kumbhakarna and Meghnad. All three figures were mounted in position by 7:00 am on Tuesday morning. Sunil, the operational manager at Jakhu Temple, confirmed that all visitor amenities, safety boundaries, and crowd control measures have been properly organized on site.

## Religious Significance Of The Historic Jakhu Hanuman Shrine
Perched on Shimla's premier hillside, the sacred Jakhu Temple represents an ancient shrine dedicated to Lord Hanuman. According to sacred lore, while traversing the skies in search of the life-saving Sanjeevani herb, Hanuman paused momentarily atop Jakhu hill to rest before continuing his mission. Today, the sacred landmark draws immense devotional traffic alongside thousands of tourists who ascend the summit throughout the year.

## What this means for you
Specific transportation and community arrangements have been instituted for travelers and worshippers attending Dussehra events in Shimla.

- **In Shimla:** Dedicated transport operations featuring 11 additional HRTC taxis are running from The Ridge and Navbahar to shuttle passengers to Jakhu hill. Commuters can reach the steep peak effortlessly and avoid personal vehicle parking bottlenecks.
- **For Visitors And Pilgrims:** Jakhu Temple premises offer an uninterrupted community kitchen meal service between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm. Attendees can also view the traditional Ramlila cultural procession and Dev dance ceremonies throughout the morning and afternoon.
- **For Local Residents:** Dussehra observances are dispersed across several Shimla venues including Nabha, Baluganj, Sankat Mochan, New Shimla, and Summer Hill. This distributed setup prevents excessive congestion in a single sector of the hill station.
- **Environmental Impact:** Reducing the effigy scale from over 55 feet down to between 40 and 45 feet adheres to Swachh Bharat cleanliness objectives. This measure curbs post-event debris and smoke generation while facilitating swift site cleanup.

## Why this happened
Administrative, technical, and ecological considerations shaped the decision to adjust effigy heights and arrange dedicated transport at Jakhu Temple.

- **Environmental Mandates:** Event organizers deliberately reduced the structural height from previous levels above 55 feet down to 40 to 45 feet to support the Swachh Bharat mission. Lowering the mass minimizes residual waste and smoke accumulation over the hilltop.
- **High Tourist And Devotee Footfall:** Jakhu Temple attracts heavy congregations during Dussehra due to its scenic altitude and mythological ties to Hanuman. Transport authorities arranged fleet taxis from accessible hubs to prevent severe traffic choke points on narrow mountain routes.
- **Artisan Precision For Visual Stunts:** Executing mechanical effects like tear simulations, head fireworks, and water jets required specialized craftsmanship. This prompted organizers to bring in 20 artisans from Meerut to fabricate the frameworks over a 20-day span.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. When will the Ravana effigy burning occur at Jakhu Temple and who will lead it?
The effigy burning will take place on Tuesday evening, October 20, with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu igniting the structures using a remote control.

### 2. What are the dimensions of the effigies prepared for this Dussehra?
The Ravana effigy measures between 40 and 45 feet in height, while the effigies of Kumbhakarna and Meghnad each stand at 35 feet.

### 3. What unique technical and visual effects are featured in the effigy display?
The setup includes flames leaping from Ravana's head, simulated tears flowing from the eyes, bursting fireworks from the skull, and a water fountain shooting from the rear.

### 4. What transport arrangements did HRTC establish for visitors?
HRTC deployed 11 additional taxis, operating seven vehicles from The Ridge and four from Navbahar to shuttle passengers to Jakhu Temple.

### 5. Who constructed the effigies and how long did the work take?
A team of 20 artisans from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, led by Mohammad Azim, assembled and decorated the effigies over a 20-day period.

### 6. What are the timings for the community feast at Jakhu Temple?
The temple will provide continuous community kitchen meals for visiting devotees between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm.

### 7. What mythological significance is associated with Jakhu hill?
According to legend, Lord Hanuman paused on Jakhu hill to rest while searching for the sacred Sanjeevani herb.

---
_TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._