Don No 1: Ravana jhukega nahi! A walk through west Delhi's Titarpur Ravan effigy market
Ahead of Dussehra, artisans in west Delhi’s Titarpur share how Rama’s increased popularity has revived the demand for Ravana effigies. Here’s all the action!
Ahead of Dussehra (October 12), artisans in west Delhi’s Titarpur share how Rama’s popularity has revived the demand for Ravana effigies. Here’s all the action from Ravana’s popular haunt, where the mythological demon king is ruling the streets in filmi style.
I’ve been making effigies since the age of 15, and I’m now 58... From a Ravana effigy of 5ft to that of 80ft, I’ve worked on all sizes that we sell here. The 80ft Ravana we are selling is for Rs. 40,000, iske design mein lights lagi hui hain jisse alag hi ronak aati hai.
Praveen Tanwar, Effigy maker at Bijender Rawan Vala
Mujhe 55 saal ho gaye idhar... Jab Ravan Wale Baba (late Chuttan Lal; the first effigy maker to settle in Titarpur) se kaam seekhna shuru kiya, ab mai unka akhiri chela (disciple) bacha hu, tab Rs. 600 - Rs.700 ka sabse bada Ravana bikta tha. Aaj 25-30ft ke Ravana ki keemat Rs. 15,000 se RS. 18,000 hai says Madan Lal Lohiya, Effigy maker
Artisans share how some customers are visiting from far off places to buy Ravana effigies in bulk, and loading these in trucks so that they can sell these to others
Ravana toh hum 5ft se lekar 50ft tak banate hain lekin sab sirf dilli mein nahi jalte. People from nearby states such as Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and even Himachal Pradesh come here to buy Ravanas, says Deepak Rai, Effigy maker at Mahendra and Subhash Ravan Vale
The popularity and fandom of cinema from the South have taken over some of the effigy makers who are painting catchy film titles and dialogues on the Ravana effigies
Many artisans say that this year the cost of Ravana effigies is Rs. 500 per foot, and there is a visible spike in the number of effigy makers. “Ram ka naam bahut zyada ho gaya hai toh Ravan bhi toh hone chahiye,” jests Gulab Singh Bhati, an effigy maker.
Get ready for Dussehra celebrations as Ravana takes center stage today! For more stories like this follow HT City Delhi Junction on Instagram.
