Ban vs Bomb: Effigy makers create verses for Ravana's ‘mukti’ from evil

Effigy makers in West Delhi's Titarpur are writing messages from #DilSe on Ravana effigies ahead of Dussehra on October 24.

Stuck between the cracker ban and the win of good over evil, Ravana effigy makers in Titarpur have written their mann ki baat on their work of craft.

Ravana effigies reads “Bomb pataakhe ka ban hatvao, mujhe mukti dilwao.” (Dhruv Sethi/HT)

“The sale of effigies is certainly more this year, as compared to previous years, but the cost has gone down since people are not happy to buy effigies sans firecrackers... The government has put a ban on crackers and we’re stuck midway. Isliye humein Ravana par hi apne mann ki baat likh di.” says Mahendra Pal, a head of effigy makers.

Ravana effigy reads, "Har din mera ansh mita, bure kaam se vansh mita." (Dhruv Sethi/HT)

Some are still finding a way out of the situation. “Main sirf sabse uncha wala Ravana, 40 foot ka, ₹40,000 mein bech paya hun. Last year, the market price was ₹1,000/foot, but this year it’s only ₹500. So overall, I haven’t been able to make much profit. Par kya karein," shares Rahul, an artisan.

Parvjeet Singh clicks a picture of his wife, Ruchika Kaur. (Dhruv Sethi/HT)

Delhiites have determined the Najafgarh Road stretch to be a selfie spot during this time. “My wife (Ruchika) and I had our weekly off today, so we decided to twin in yellow colour and visit Titarpur to click pics for the ‘gram. The effigies are just so vibrant that we are getting numerous likes!” says Parvjeet Singh, a resident of Rajouri Garden.