For 50 years a muslim family crafts Ravana effigies for Agra

AGRA: Every year, Zafar Ali, 68 and his team comprising his nephew, son, brother and others come to the city to create effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghnad for Dussehra.

Notwithstanding the fact that he has lost the fingers of right hand in an accident while crafting an effigy,

Zafar Ali never misses

his date with Agra a month before Dussehra. For the past 50 years , he along with his family members have been building effigies of Ramayana epic characters.

Hailing from

Mathura’s Bharatpur Gate area

, the family’s sixth generation has continued with the tradition of making Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghnad effigies for supply in Agra, Mumbai, Surat, Mathura, Delhi and other places.

Zafar Ali said, “Times have changed but not our belief in peace and harmony. Amid reports of Hindu and Muslim clashes, we are still especially invited by Agra Ramlila committee to build effigies for Dussehra. This year, we are making an 85-foot tall Ravana, with a smiling face.”

He added, “It gives us immense satisfaction when people on the eve of Vijaydashmi see our work and appreciate it. Since the spirit of Dussehra is victory of good over evil, we all as a community have to burn the symbol of hatred — ‘the Ravana’, so that we can again live in harmony and brotherhood.”

Speaking with TOI,

Agra Ramlila committee chairman

Jagan Prasad Garg and

BJP MLA

said, “There is nothing to be surprised about Muslims involved in a Hindu festival. For more than half a century, Muslim families such as those of Zafar Ali have been decorating temples and making effigies for Dusshera. Zafar’s great grandfather too had made effigies for the festivals.”

For making of effigies, at least a team of 10 people work round the clock and they are paid Rs 500 or less a day.