This Dussehra, Ravana turns fit and fab with broad shoulders, heavy muscles and moustache like cricketer Shikhar Dhawan. While black models are out, 50 ft long effigies have got an expensive colourful makeover and a water-proof coating. Karan Bhardwaj meets the makers
It’s that time of the year again when Titarpur, an otherwise nondescript village in West Delhi, gets a colourful makeover. The entire lane, as you look down from the Rajouri-Tagore Garden Metro stretch or cross through vehicles, greets you with different parts, shapes, colours and forms of Ravana, as if there’s a competition among these models to outdo each other. From every nook and corner, the mélange of hues exudes several stories of one of India’s most reverred epic which continues to impact our lives in ways more than one. As Dussehra nears, the skilled artisans are busy lending final touches to the effigies of the combustible models of the Ravana. For that matter, the lane is acknowledged as Asia’s largest market in the manufacturing of Ravanas. It’s a cascade where the evil is born, designed, customised, assembled and even shipped to international locations such as England, Canada, America and Africa.
Applying the freshly produced adhesive on the silver crown of a pink-hued Ravana, Pitambar, better known as Ustadji, is simultaneously overseeing his four assistants. At 70, he along with his team of 12 artisans have produced over 50 Ravanas. They are excited that the rains didn’t spoil the momentum, unlike last year. There’s also an increase in the demand of the Ravanas this year. “Thankfully, the demand is up this time. We are getting good deals from different states like UP, MP, Bengal, Haryana and Ranchi,” says Ustadji.
The art of making a Ravana is intricate and requires months and years of practice to excel. After the bamboo is bought, it is cut to prepare frames for different parts of the body. The circular and cylindrical shapes are created through wires. For torso, they use cloth for padding before pasting the paper or the glossy sheets. All the parts are made separately only to be assembled later just before they are transported to the clients.
NEW SHAPES AND FORMS
There’s hardly any sphere in life where we don’t have an influence of Bollywood and cricket. Dussehra is no different. The artisans are finding it tough to match up to the evolving demands of their clients.
“People come with specific requirements. Some wants Ravana to have moustache like cricketer Shikhar Dhawan or some Bollywood actors,” says Mahendra from ‘Mahendra and Subhash Ravanwaale’.
Mahendra claims to be the oldest artisan of the colony and he began this business some 45 years ago. As he describes his legacy, a 30 ft Ravana almost in a V-shaped body catches our attention. That aptly reveals the fancy for fit and fab Ravanas.
“Most of the Ravanas that I have made have broad shoulders, heavy biceps and wide chest. They want Ravana with a physique of a body builder. One client sat right through the process and got his model done with unique features. The moustache were kept broad while the torso had abs. I took 10 days to make that piece,” informs Subhash, who is dealing with some 40 pieces this year.
This year, the splash of colours is in. Experts say the black Ravanas are no more in vogue and their clients want a dash of silver and gold.
“They give us a combination of colours while we are also creating new dimension on canvas. The silver, pink, green, golden and red are a smashing hit,” says Subhash.
The size of Ravanas vary from five to 50 ft. “This time, the size has come down since the focus is on body features,” he adds.
MARKET UPSWING
Unlike last year, when rains washed away most of the hard work that ultimately incurred heavy losses to these artisans, Dussehra this year looks promising.
Even though the price of manufacturing has gone up with hike in the prices of raw materials, ranging from paper to bamboos, the demand seems to have grown up.
“The price depends on the size of the effigy. We charge Rs 300 per foot,” shares Mahendra. Over 2,500 effigies are expected to be sold this season. The manufacturers are expecting huge profit margins with each group looking at a target of Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh. Interestingly, most of the craftsmen are on a paid on a seasonal basis with Rs 10,000-25,000 depending on their experience. “The orders are taken by the owners, who happen to be the dealers of wedding bands in this market. Some individual artisans and their families are directly involved in the business,” shares Kanhaiya, an assistant of Ustadji. The seniors lead the groups and fetch maximum remuneration with food and drinks thrown in for free.
learning lessons from the previous year, Subhash is using imported paper which offers Ravana a protection from the rains. “I got this paper from Africa. Normally, the colourful charts cost somewhere around Rs 20 per kg. But this paper costs Rs 120 per kg. It saves the effigy from the showers,” he says. However, they have kept the prices same due to ‘intense competition’.
NIGHT BURGlARY
While they invest daytime in creating the effigies, the night goes into guarding and protecting them. The artisans are facing an unprecedented crisis as the Ravana is being picked by thieves who come overnight. “They come on bikes and drag the parts which are lying open on roads and pavements under the Metro’s elevated tracks. These effigies look bulky but they are very light since they are not stuffed. The clients put crackers or other stuff once it is imported. However, some miscreants are coming on a regular basis almost every night and are picking up different parts. These are the boys who do not know the art but want to sell these pieces in market,” says Kanhaiya. Since it is the peak time and any kind of loss would result in loss, the community members assume the role of watchmen in night and tie the Ravanas with ropes. “last night only, they towed four torsos while other three were damaged. What is gone is just gone. We cannot afford to lose our creations like this. This is the last minute show and it is very difficult to meet the supply and create fresh stock now,” he says.
photos Pankaj Kumar