City’s tallest Ravana to get videshi touch this time

LUDHIANA: Coming Dussehra, Ludhianvis will witness the making of a new record of sorts — the tallest Ravana effigy (at 120-foot) made in the city so far and use of waterproof paper specially imported from the United States to drape the structure.
And what adds colours of harmony to the celebrations is the fact that the decision to increase height of the effigy was taken after the insistence of enthused effigy artisans, most of whom are Muslims from Agra.
Interestingly, the same team of artisans had made a 100-foot tall effigy of Ravana last year on Dussehra. As per their claims, this year’s effigy is going to be the tallest ever made in the state so far. Last year, rain had played spoilsport at the last moment. Therefore, the artisans have decided to use waterproof paper for the effigy.
City’s Sri Ram Leela and Dussehra committee has been organizing the Dussehra fair at Daresi ground since 1961. Pertinently, the committee has been using the services of these artisans to come up with tall and attractive effigies on every Dussehra for the past several years.
The Dussehra fair has already started at Daresi ground and it will begin from the first Navaratra on October 15 and will continue till October 24 at some other places.
One of the artisans Sohail Khan, who is preparing the effigies at Daresi ground, said, “We reached here a month back. It takes at least three days to prepare the face of one effigy and we are preparing many effigies for various committees.”
Talking about the special Ravana at Daresi ground, he said, “Last year, there was a sudden rain on Dussehra and Ravana effigy got wet. This time we are using waterproof paper to save it from getting wet or fade away in the sunlight.”
He claimed that paper has been brought from the US for better presentation. He said they are preparing effigies for at least 10 more committees in the city.
Dinesh Marwaha, president, Sri Ram Leela and Dussehra Committee, Daresi, said, “We wanted a 100-ft tall effigy of Ravana. But the artisans said they want to go up to 120 feet this time. There will be more attractions in the fair with new rides.”
Dinesh Marwaha, president, Sri Ram Leela and Dussehra Committee, Daresi, said Ravana effigy would cost between Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh and there is up to 15% rise in total expenses. There is at least 15 to 20% increase in the cost of the effigy as raw material has become costlier, he added.
Kapoor from Rajguru Nagar Sri Ram Leela and Dussehra committee said, “The cost of making the effigies has gone up by 20%. Cracker cost has gone up substantially.”
Dussehra will be celebrated at more than 50 locations in the city. Most of the committees keep it a one-day affair while at some locations it will be a 10-day-long fair. Major Dusshera celebrations will be held in Daresi, Civil Lines, Hambran Road, Chandigarh Road, Aggar Nagar, Rajguru Nagar, Sarabha Nagar, Haibowal, Dugri and South City. Committee members claimed that they would arrange private security along with CCTV cameras for the safety of the visitors. Besides, city police will also beef up security around these areas.