210-ft-tall Ravana may be here one last time

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Barara (Ambala), October 8

The 210-foot-tall Ravana is once again attracting crowds but it could be the last time when people can see it as Shri Ramlila Club has expressed helplessness over erecting it from the next year in the view of space constraints.

The effigy was erected on Wednesday and the five-day-long Barara Dasehra Festival began on Friday night.

Tejinder Chauhan, president of Shri Ramlila Club, said: “When we first erected the effigy here, the ground was nearly 24 acres but now new colonies are being established as a result of which the size of the ground has reduced to half. On our request, the people this year delayed construction for a few days but we may not get adequate space next year.”

The club has been making the effigies of Ravana since 1987. Initially, it was 20-foot-tall. Each year, its height was increased and it touched a height of 210 feet a couple of years ago. It has also made entry into the Limca Book of World Records five consecutive times for its height.

“We have not been able to increase it further due to lack of cranes for erecting it and continuous decrease in the area. It needs at least 20 acres to erect such a tall effigy. We have requested the administration repeatedly. Even politicians who visited the area on previous occasions were apprised of the situation but to no avail,” Chauhan added.

He said: “If the club doesn’t get proper space, we are afraid that we will not be able to erect the effigy of Ravana and celebrate Dasehra from next year.”

For the club, the safety remains a concern. Last year, a fireman sustained injuries after a part of the effigy fell down.

Chauhan said: “Last year, some people forcefully pulled the Ravana down by pulling at its ropes as they wanted to collect the burning wood in it. This year, the surroundings of the effigy have been increased from 200 to 260 feet, besides the height of the barricades has also been increased to five feet.”

Eco-friendly crackers will be used to set afire the five-tonne effigy.

Muslim artisans give final touches to effigies 

Karnal: More than 20 Muslim artisans from Uttar Pradesh have been giving artistic touch to effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghnath here. They not only prepare the effigies for Karnal, but also for other cities of the state during their nearly a month-long stay at the Ramlila Ground here. The artisans, who belong to Gangoh in UP, said that they had been following their age-old tradition of preparing the effigies. Arshad, an artisan, said that his father Mohammad Nazar and grandfather Allah Rakha had prepared the effigies and now, he and his brother Masum had been coming to Karnal to prepare the effigies. The effigy of Ravana would be of around 75 feet, while Kumbhkarna of 65 feet and Meghanand of 60 feet, he added. Arshad said: “Applause of the audience makes them happy. There should be a spirit of brotherhood among all communities and there should be no space for communal hatred in society.” Masum said that it was a matter of pride for them that they had been making the effigies for the auspicious occasion and for this, they receive immense support from their Hindu brothers.  — TNS