Photos during Ravana Dahan in Ludhiana, Punjab- File shot
Dussehra preparations have intensified in many cities of Punjab. Ravana effigies are being made in big cities like Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana. The special thing is that the effigies prepared here are burnt not only in Punjab but also abroad.
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For this, orders come from abroad and then Ravana’s heads are sent from here. These orders come mostly from people of Indian origin, who also celebrate Dussehra with pomp abroad. This time Dussehra will be celebrated on 2 October.
The family of Vinod Kumar Banwari Lal of Amritsar has been working to make Ravana for the last five generations. This time too, the same passion and passion is seen in his work that used to be in his grandfather and father. Vinod explains, “We have received an order to make Ravana’s faces from London. This is not the first time, we have been making such orders for many years.”
Karigar making Ravana in Amritsar.
12 faces ordered this year Vinod Kumar says that it is difficult to send the entire Ravana abroad, so he only sends Ravana’s faces to London. Going there, the local people use those faces and prepare effigies of Ravana. This year he has received orders to make the faces of about 12 Ravanas.
Usually this number also reaches 15. He learned this art from his grandfather and father, in which it took him many years. The rest of the body parts are formed with one style, but the face is the most complicated and important.
2 to two and a half feet faces are sent abroad Vinod Kumar said that he sends Ravana’s faces abroad through courier, especially London. The people who have ordered the entire expenses of this courier there. This time, it has cost about 80 thousand rupees to send all the faces. The faces are usually made 2 to two and a half feet long.
30 to 35 feet high Ravan is prepared Vinod says that if it is made big faces, then it becomes difficult to send from the courier, in such a situation, the risk of their breakdown or deteriorating increases. After reaching there, these faces are planted in the effigies of Ravana by the local artisans, and then the same faces are used 30 to 35 feet high Ravana, which are burnt on the day of Dussera.
100 feet high Ravana will burn in Amritsar This time Vinod Kumar and his family are making 100 feet high Ravan, who will be the biggest Ravana of Amritsar. Vinod says that it is not just an effigy, but a symbol of centuries -old tradition and art. He believes that Amritsar in the beauty of Dussehra is not only saving his cultural heritage, but now this art is crossing the boundaries of the country and reaching abroad.
Last year 100 feet Ravana was burnt in Jalandhar, Punjab.
If we do not make, the tradition will end Vinod Kumar says that the art of making Ravana has been going on for generations in his family. If they and their family do not continue it, then this tradition may gradually end. Vinod explains that this tradition was started by his grandfather, and today his family is considered to be at the forefront of Ravana in Amritsar.
Also become officers, you will not leave tradition Vinod Kumar says that making Ravana is a heritage for him, which his family is saving for generations. They believe that whatever they become in life, officers too, but this tradition will never leave. Interestingly, now his daughter is also learning this art. She studies Dehradun, but helps in Amritsar to make Ravana every year.
This time the order low, the impact of flood Vinod Kumar said that this time the floods in Punjab have also affected his work. Every year, orders of big Ravan used to come from the villages around Ajnala and Amritsar, but this time it did not happen. This time the people of the village said that the money spent on making Ravana wants to help the flood victims. Hearing this, the heart was comforted that there is a festival of humanity greater than the festival.