Venkat Vijay Kumar
Chronicle Reporter, BHEL
In the capital Bhopal, on 12 October i.e. Vijayadashmi, the biggest effigies of Ravana ranging from 51 feet to 105 feet high will be burnt in BHEL, Kolar, Karond, Jamboori Maidan Awadhpuri, Vittan Market. For this, the effigies are being finalized. Along with this, effigies of Kumbhakaran and Meghnad of 45-46 feet height will also be burnt. At present, Ravana’s effigies are being finalized in BHEL’s old closed Natraj Cinema Talkies.
The Sahu family has been making effigies of Ravana in BHEL for about three generations. The making of effigies starts three months before Dussehra and the effigy is completely completed 4 days before Dussehra. Omprakash Sahu has been making effigies in BHEL for 20 years. A team of 20 people including his son and other artists make effigies of Ravana every year. Omprakash said that like every year, this time also 40 effigies of Ravana are being made, which are 45 to 65 feet tall. Along with this, 40 effigies of Kumbhkaran and Meghnath are also being made. For the effigies, polythene, paint, bamboo, fevicol paste etc. are used along with various materials for facial decoration.
Inflation also casts its shadow on effigies
Vinod, the artist who makes effigies, said that every year the cost of making Ravana’s effigy increases by about 30 percent. Actually, due to the increase in the prices of materials, the price of the effigy also has to be increased by 30 percent every year. One effigy of Ravana is made for about 60-70 thousand rupees. We are thankful to the BHEL administration, which has given us this place to make the effigy. This year 40 effigies are being made. Orders for making effigies have been received from BHEL Bhopal, Jamburi Maidan, New Market, Wittan Market, Karond, Ashoka Garden Dussehra Maidan committees as well as districts like Bina, Lalitpur, Sehore, Raisen, Narmadapuram etc.