Along with the effigies of Ravan, those of 'terrorists' and 'Nawaz Sharif' will also go up in flames this Dussehra, say craftsmen building them.
Two effigies of 'terrorists' have already been booked by some people in Sonipat, Haryana, said Ravan Wale Baba, an effigy contractor based near the Tagore Garden Metro station. He recently sent a Ravan effigy to New Jersey, the United States.
The effigies of `terrorists' could be up to 15 feet tall, said the artisan. Some 'terrorist' effigies will be custom-made, and others simply converted from the unsold Ravans.
"We will just put a long black beard on the Ravan effigy that no one buys and make a long black dress instead of the colourful one," said Ravan Wale Baba.
Outside the Metro station, there are hundreds of effigies of Ravan in the making. The unfinished body parts of Ravan, made with bamboo, cover the entire stretch from Rajouri Garden to Subhash Nagar Metro stations.
Beginning two months from Dussehra, the place looks like this every year. What is new this time is that among the Ravans, there are effigies of 'terrorists' being made. Artisans said the leftover bamboo will be used in making them.
Ravan Wale Baba has displayed a three by four feet advertisement as well. It says in Hindi that apart from those of Ravan, Kumbhakaran and Meghnath, `terrorist' effigies of up to 100 feet are made there.
Mahender, another effigy contractor, said he started this business 25 years ago and this year he plans to make `terrorist' effigies too.
"Because of the recent terror attack on the Indian Army at the border by Pakistan, people are wary of celebrating Dussehra. The buzz is that busy places maybe under terrorist threat," he said.
Unlike last year, there has been a drop in number of bookings received till now, he said.
"This is also because MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) and DDA (Delhi Development Authority) have not given permission for burning effigies in many places this year," said Mahender.
He saw a drop in the intensity with which festivals are celebrated through the years because of the fear of terrorist attacks.
"It is my heart's desire to myself make a terrorist effigy and burn it even if no one orders one. But we will make some Nawaz Sharifs and some Baghdadis for sure," he said.
The craftsmen are either jobless or work as drivers and labourers for the rest of the year. But effigy-making brings them in Delhi from different parts of the country every year.
The price of an effigy depends on its size and design. The most expensive ones would cost up to Rs 28,000 and the cheapest Rs 2,000, said the artisans.
This year it is the "dhoti wala Ravan" which is in fashion, said effigy contractors.![]( "Effigies of 'Nawaz Sharif' will also go up in flames this year.")
Along with the effigies of Ravan, those of 'terrorists’ and 'Nawaz Sharif’ will also go up in flames this Dussehra, say craftsmen building them.
Two effigies of 'terrorists’ have already been booked by some people in Sonipat, Haryana, said Ravan Wale Baba, an effigy contractor based near the Tagore Garden Metro station. He recently sent a Ravan effigy to New Jersey, the United States.
The effigies of `terrorists’ could be up to 15 feet tall, said the artisan. Some 'terrorist’ effigies will be custom-made, and others simply converted from the unsold Ravans.
"We will just put a long black beard on the Ravan effigy that no one buys and make a long black dress instead of the colourful one,” said Ravan Wale Baba.
Outside the Metro station, there are hundreds of effigies of Ravan in the making. The unfinished body parts of Ravan, made with bamboo, cover the entire stretch from Rajouri Garden to Subhash Nagar Metro stations.
Beginning two months from Dussehra, the place looks like this every year. What is new this time is that among the Ravans, there are effigies of 'terrorists’ being made. Artisans said the leftover bamboo will be used in making them.
Ravan Wale Baba has displayed a three by four feet advertisement as well. It says in Hindi that apart from those of Ravan, Kumbhakaran and Meghnath, `terrorist’ effigies of up to 100 feet are made there.
Mahender, another effigy contractor, said he started this business 25 years ago and this year he plans to make `terrorist’ effigies too.
"Because of the recent terror attack on the Indian Army at the border by Pakistan, people are wary of celebrating Dussehra. The buzz is that busy places maybe under terrorist threat,” he said.
Unlike last year, there has been a drop in number of bookings received till now, he said.
"This is also because MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) and DDA (Delhi Development Authority) have not given permission for burning effigies in many places this year,” said Mahender.
He saw a drop in the intensity with which festivals are celebrated through the years because of the fear of terrorist attacks.
"It is my heart’s desire to myself make a terrorist effigy and burn it even if no one orders one. But we will make some Nawaz Sharifs and some Baghdadis for sure,” he said.
The craftsmen are either jobless or work as drivers and labourers for the rest of the year. But effigy-making brings them in Delhi from different parts of the country every year.
The price of an effigy depends on its size and design. The most expensive ones would cost up to Rs 28,000 and the cheapest Rs 2,000, said the artisans.
This year it is the "dhoti wala Ravan” which is in fashion, said effigy contractors.
Two effigies of 'terrorists' have already been booked by some people in Sonipat, Haryana, said Ravan Wale Baba, an effigy contractor based near the Tagore Garden Metro station. He recently sent a Ravan effigy to New Jersey, the United States.
The effigies of `terrorists' could be up to 15 feet tall, said the artisan. Some 'terrorist' effigies will be custom-made, and others simply converted from the unsold Ravans.
"We will just put a long black beard on the Ravan effigy that no one buys and make a long black dress instead of the colourful one," said Ravan Wale Baba.
Outside the Metro station, there are hundreds of effigies of Ravan in the making. The unfinished body parts of Ravan, made with bamboo, cover the entire stretch from Rajouri Garden to Subhash Nagar Metro stations.
Beginning two months from Dussehra, the place looks like this every year. What is new this time is that among the Ravans, there are effigies of 'terrorists' being made. Artisans said the leftover bamboo will be used in making them.
Ravan Wale Baba has displayed a three by four feet advertisement as well. It says in Hindi that apart from those of Ravan, Kumbhakaran and Meghnath, `terrorist' effigies of up to 100 feet are made there.
Mahender, another effigy contractor, said he started this business 25 years ago and this year he plans to make `terrorist' effigies too.
"Because of the recent terror attack on the Indian Army at the border by Pakistan, people are wary of celebrating Dussehra. The buzz is that busy places maybe under terrorist threat," he said.
Unlike last year, there has been a drop in number of bookings received till now, he said.
"This is also because MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) and DDA (Delhi Development Authority) have not given permission for burning effigies in many places this year," said Mahender.
He saw a drop in the intensity with which festivals are celebrated through the years because of the fear of terrorist attacks.
"It is my heart's desire to myself make a terrorist effigy and burn it even if no one orders one. But we will make some Nawaz Sharifs and some Baghdadis for sure," he said.
The craftsmen are either jobless or work as drivers and labourers for the rest of the year. But effigy-making brings them in Delhi from different parts of the country every year.
The price of an effigy depends on its size and design. The most expensive ones would cost up to Rs 28,000 and the cheapest Rs 2,000, said the artisans.
This year it is the "dhoti wala Ravan" which is in fashion, said effigy contractors.
Along with the effigies of Ravan, those of 'terrorists’ and 'Nawaz Sharif’ will also go up in flames this Dussehra, say craftsmen building them.Two effigies of 'terrorists’ have already been booked by some people in Sonipat, Haryana, said Ravan Wale Baba, an effigy contractor based near the Tagore Garden Metro station. He recently sent a Ravan effigy to New Jersey, the United States.
The effigies of `terrorists’ could be up to 15 feet tall, said the artisan. Some 'terrorist’ effigies will be custom-made, and others simply converted from the unsold Ravans.
"We will just put a long black beard on the Ravan effigy that no one buys and make a long black dress instead of the colourful one,” said Ravan Wale Baba.
Outside the Metro station, there are hundreds of effigies of Ravan in the making. The unfinished body parts of Ravan, made with bamboo, cover the entire stretch from Rajouri Garden to Subhash Nagar Metro stations.
Beginning two months from Dussehra, the place looks like this every year. What is new this time is that among the Ravans, there are effigies of 'terrorists’ being made. Artisans said the leftover bamboo will be used in making them.
Ravan Wale Baba has displayed a three by four feet advertisement as well. It says in Hindi that apart from those of Ravan, Kumbhakaran and Meghnath, `terrorist’ effigies of up to 100 feet are made there.
Mahender, another effigy contractor, said he started this business 25 years ago and this year he plans to make `terrorist’ effigies too.
"Because of the recent terror attack on the Indian Army at the border by Pakistan, people are wary of celebrating Dussehra. The buzz is that busy places maybe under terrorist threat,” he said.
Unlike last year, there has been a drop in number of bookings received till now, he said.
"This is also because MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) and DDA (Delhi Development Authority) have not given permission for burning effigies in many places this year,” said Mahender.
He saw a drop in the intensity with which festivals are celebrated through the years because of the fear of terrorist attacks.
"It is my heart’s desire to myself make a terrorist effigy and burn it even if no one orders one. But we will make some Nawaz Sharifs and some Baghdadis for sure,” he said.
The craftsmen are either jobless or work as drivers and labourers for the rest of the year. But effigy-making brings them in Delhi from different parts of the country every year.
The price of an effigy depends on its size and design. The most expensive ones would cost up to Rs 28,000 and the cheapest Rs 2,000, said the artisans.
This year it is the "dhoti wala Ravan” which is in fashion, said effigy contractors.