'This is Ravana’s counter-attack.'

What was meant to be a traditional Dussehra spectacle took an alarming turn when a burning Ravana effigy began sending firecrackers and rockets towards spectators, forcing people to scatter in different directions to escape the flying fireworks.

The unexpected sequence, captured in a viral video, has garnered over 22 million views on Instagram, sparking humorous reactions alongside concerns about the safety of people and animals at crowded celebrations.

Shared by Instagram user @urr..ammu..07, the clip shows a man approaching the effigy and setting it alight from the bottom.

As the flames spread through the structure, the attached firecrackers begin exploding rapidly. However, some of the fireworks appear to shoot towards the watching crowd rather than travelling upwards, turning the celebration into a scene of confusion and panic.

As sparks and rockets fly in different directions, spectators rush away from the burning structure.

Viral Ravana effigy video reminds viewers of Golmaal 3

The bizarre turn of events quickly became fodder for social media humour, with several users joking that the effigy was retaliating against the crowd. Others compared it to the chaotic fireworks sequence in the Bollywood comedy ‘Golmaal 3’ (2010).

Viral Dussehra clip raises concerns over fireworks safety

Not everyone watching the video, however, was amused. Several users expressed concern over the possibility of serious injuries, questioning the placement of fireworks inside the effigy and the distance maintained between the burning structure and spectators.

'What nonsense is this! This is very dangerous for both humans and animals! And these people are enjoying it,' one viewer wrote.

The reactions highlighted the contrast between those treating the incident as comic entertainment and those pointing to the potential consequences of fireworks going off in the wrong direction.

The burning of Ravana effigies is a traditional feature of Dussehra celebrations, symbolising the victory of good over evil.

Yet the viral footage reminds us that the spectacle can quickly become hazardous when fireworks behave unpredictably, especially when large crowds gather close to the burning structure.

While the clip has generated millions of views and plenty of jokes, viewers' safety concerns underscore the risks fireworks pose at public festivities.