Muslim family crafts tallest Ravana for Jaipur’s Dussehra

The state’s tallest 105-foot Ravana effigy including the 90-foott Kumbhkaran will be burnt in Jaipur’s Adarsh Nagar. Rajeev Manchanda, who organised the Dussehra festival celebrated in the Adarsh Nagar of the capital, said that a Muslim family from Mathura has been doing the work of creating the Ravana effigy for five generations. He said that […]

by PRACHI SAINI - October 24, 2023, 10:30 am

The state’s tallest 105-foot Ravana effigy including the 90-foott Kumbhkaran will be burnt in Jaipur’s Adarsh Nagar. Rajeev Manchanda, who organised the Dussehra festival celebrated in the Adarsh Nagar of the capital, said that a Muslim family from Mathura has been doing the work of creating the Ravana effigy for five
generations.
He said that after Janmashtami, this family lives in the Ram temple premises and works to make effigies of Ravana and Kumbhakarna, and last year, even their child was born here. This time also the fifth generation of the Muslim family of Mathura is engaged in this work.
Congress leader Pratap Singh Khachariyawas will grace the Ramleela program as a chief guest. Apart from this, many prominent faces, including special guest RAJSICO Chairman Rajeev Arora, MLA Kalicharan Saraf and MLA Rafiq Khan will participate in this program. The program coordinator of Ravana Dahan said that every time the Ravana effigy is upgraded with the modern era. This time the effigy is completely remote-controlled and is decorated with virtual golden clothes along with a virtual golden crown. Along with this, a live tableau of Lord Shri Ram will be displayed, and there will be fireworks for about half an hour at the venue- approximately the same amount of time will be spent in Ravana Dahan.
According to the belief, some people come here to get blessings for the newborn child. For this reason, purity is kept in mind while making the effigy of Ravana. The artisan family does not use any harmful items, and the material used is clean and neat. Chand Babu, the head of the Muslim family, said that 50 years ago his grandfather came to Jaipur and started the work of making Ravana effigies. At that time, they started by making a 20-foot effigy. Since then, generation after generation, they have been coming here and creating the effigies. Babu said that the art he has learned from his elders, he also wants his children to learn it.