Kejriwal joins Kondli Dussehra celebrations live
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
As the air fills with the chants of Siyavar Ramchandra ki jai and effigies of Ravana tower over East Delhi neighbourhoods, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, joined the grand Dussehra festivities organised by the Jai Shri Hanumant Ramleela Committee in Kondli — and took it live for his followers on X.
Kejriwal's post opened with the devotional salutation 'Siyavar Ramchandra ki jai' — 'Victory to Lord Rama, consort of Sita' — before announcing the grand Dussehra festival being staged in Kondli, a locality in East Delhi. A live broadcast link accompanied the post, inviting followers to watch the celebrations in real time.
Kondli's Ramleela tradition and the Jai Shri Hanumant Committee
The Jai Shri Hanumant Ramleela Committee is a local organising body in Kondli that stages annual Ramleela performances and Dussehra festivities for the neighbourhood. These community-run events are a fixture of Delhi's cultural calendar, blending devotional theatre with large public gatherings that draw residents from across the locality.
Dussehra, which marks Lord Rama's victory over the demon king Ravana, is observed across India with Ramleela enactments, the burning of Ravana effigies, and community celebrations — with Delhi hosting some of the country's most elaborate festivals each year.
Politics, piety, and the Delhi constituency circuit
Kejriwal's appearance follows a well-worn pattern in Indian electoral politics: leaders across parties make themselves visible at neighbourhood religious and cultural events, reinforcing community ties at the grassroots level. For AAP, whose political base is deeply rooted in Delhi's mohallas and localities, engagement with local festival committees carries both cultural and organisational significance.
With Dussehra and Diwali events rolling out across Delhi's constituencies in quick succession, similar public appearances by AAP leaders at other neighbourhood celebrations are expected in the days ahead.
The gods may vanquish demons on stage — but the real contest, as always, plays out in the lanes and localities of Delhi.