Bidding Farewell To The Ravana

Everyone bids farewell to Ravana on Dussehra. But people living in Tatarpur Village, New Delhi bid farewell to him one day earlier than the others. It is the day when other people take him to their homes or society compounds to burn him on Dussehra.

         Tatarpur is the hub where thousands of effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna & Meghnada are prepared. Infact  we, the people residing in its vicinity at Tagore Garden and Rajouri Garden witness the process from day one -  approximately two months before festivity knocks on the door!

Right from their skeleton of bamboo to their first covering by brown paper to their decorative covering with Crepe Paper to the painting of their crowns, mustaches and facial expressions  we witness it all, year after year.

 

 

          Huge heads, torso and limbs are strewn over each and every footpath , lane , garden and even under the running Metro - in between its pillars.

      

Effigies which have transformed from zed black to multicolored hues - yellow , pink , green and even fluorescent are available in various sizes too.

Baby Ravan For Kids

Few unfinished ones are still lying never to reach their ultimate destination.

Today since morning we are jostling with the traffic congestion , diesel pollution and noise pollution of blazing horns as lots of trucks and tempos line up to lift these effigies to take them to their ultimate destination.

           Bye-Bye Ravana -------- to be continued in my next post tomorrow...