Ramlila revived  It was a nice experience to have witnessed ‘Ramlila and Ravana Dahan’ in Guwahati after a long hiatus. A colourful tradition, started in the city long back under the dynamic leadership of indomitable Radha Govinda Baruah, but abandoned some 25 years ago following his death and due to other reasons, was revived this year with colourful gaiety. The organizer of the festivities was the same old Asom Vijayadashami Mahotsava Samity founded by late RG which was reconstituted again with Tulsi Govinda Baruah as chairman, Ram Niranjan Goenka as president and Radha Bora as working president. On the Vijaya Dashami day on September 28, Nehru Stadium wore a festive look with thousands of people thronging the venue. The distinguished guests included chief minister Tarun Gogoi and writer Mamoni Raisom Goswami. It all started with the ushering in of the characters of Ram, Sita, Lakshman, Hanuman and Banar Sena with traditional gayan bayan and soon after the Ramlila followed with chief minister Tarun Gogoi, Mamoni Raisom Goswami and TG Baruah offering aaroti to the gods. Scenes from the epic Ramayana like Ram’s exile, Sita’s abduction, Ram’s Lanka raid and the victory ceremony (Vijay Utsav) were enacted on the stadium ground to the applause of the spectators who relished every moment, especially when Ravana entered the arena on a horse-drawn chariot with his demonic laughs and when the Banar Sena and Ravan’s Asur Sena were engaged in war. Later, effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad were burnt along with a fire cracker display symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.

Good gesture  It’s heartening to see people working for a social cause even at their advanced age. Despite the indifference and unwillingness on the part of some aged ones to work for societal causes due to obvious reasons, there are still others who cherish such ventures and contribute in whatsoever little way they can for the good of the citizens as a whole. Yes, those were the thoughts that crossed our mind the other day when we saw ex-tea planter Pulindra Nath Bhagawati, in the wrong side of 75, supervising a construction work of a ladies urinal at Navagraha creamtion ground premises in Guwahati. There is an existing toilet, but in a hellish condition. The total fund of Rs 1.5 lakh for the construction has been given by the ABITA, ex-tea planters society of Guwahati and a few like-minded people. Bhagawati said: “We’re building the urinals with the hope that these are managed properly for public use — may be against a nominal charge, lest it will have the same fate as that of the existing one.”

Cop concern  Quizzing in Guwahati seems to be gaining popularity with every passing year. The sixth Cop Quest sponsored by Vodafone and ITC Vivel also turned out to be a success. While Arunav Konwar and Sandipan Goswami won the first prize of Rs 15,000 and other gifts in the students section of the event — ‘Quiz-ling’, in the open event, billed ‘X-Quiz-Me’, Anurag Talukdar and Salim M Hussain walked away with the top honours that had Rs 20,000 plus other gift items. It’s heartening to see Assam Police doing its bit to inculcate inquisitiveness and competitiveness in the young minds by organizing this quiz in commemoration of Assam Police Day, celebrated every year on October 1. Manimugdha S Sarma was the quizmaster of the event conducted by Trivia Bytes Creations.

Simanta / Mridumoloy