Sector 46 boasts of 101-foot Ravana, tallest in Chandigarh

Continuing the tradition of getting towering effigies for the Dasehra celebrations, the Sector 46 ground will once again see the tallest Ravana effigy in the city, standing 101 feet tall, being set ablaze on October 12.

The other two effigies of Kumbhakarn and Meghnath will be 90 and 95 feet tall, respectively. Each effigy costs over Rs 1 lakh, making them the most expensive ones in the city.

Jatinder Bhatia, chairman of Sri Sanatan Dharam Dasehra Committee, Sector 46, said the committee would spend about Rs 6 lakh on the Dasehra celebrations.

A “shobha yatra” would be taken out from Sector 46 at 2 pm on October 12. After passing through several sectors, it would reach the ground at 4:30 pm where Ravana “dahan” would take place. “The effigies, stuffed with eco-friendly crackers, will be set ablaze with a remote,” he added.

The committee has around 130 members and each one of them has contributed Rs 3,100 for the celebrations. They have received donations from other persons too.

The key venues for the Dasehra celebrations in the city are in Sectors 17, 20, 22, 49, 27, 43, Mani Majra, Dadu Majra, Hallo Majra, Ram Darbar, Dhanas and Sector 56.

Panchkula to have tallest effigy

The celebrations in Sector 79 of Mohali will feature a 120-foot Ravana effigy. That too has been made by Shahrukh and his team. The tallest Ravana effigy of the tricity has been erected in Panchkula. It is 155 feet tall. The organisers decided to reduce its height from 181 feet to 155 feet after it collapsed amid strong winds a few days ago.

25 artisans worked for 40 days

Shahrukh Khan, a fourth-generation artisan of a family known for making tall effigies, said a team of 25 members took 40 days to make the three effigies in Sector 46. They have also made effigies at five other locations in the city, including Sector 27, where a 70-foot-tall Ravana effigy has been built.