High cost: Ravana ‘remains’ to be reused next year

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, October 1

The Shri Ramlila Club of Barara in Ambala will recycle parts of the effigy of Ravana for reuse next year. The club has saved parts worth nearly Rs 6 lakh.

“Reducing the entire effigy into ashes is not necessary as it is not a dead body. The face was the same as last year’s with change in colour and moustache. The face cost nearly Rs 2 lakh and the 50-foot sword around Rs 60,000,” said Tejinder Chauhan, club president.

“The effigy cost is increasing every year, but we get less contribution from people and no support from the government. This effigy cost nearly Rs 25 lakh. Crackers were placed in a manner that the face, sword and decorative items on the crown were not damaged,” he said.

“Parts of the effigy will be repaired and reused next year. It will help the club keep the budget under control as GST has increased the effigy cost,” he added.

The club criticised the Congress and BJP from stage last night in the presence of HPCC chief Ashok Tanwar and RSS leader Gian Chand Jain for the ‘uncooperative’ attitude of successive governments. The club expressed unhappiness over being ignored by the Chief Minister.

“The Chief Minister gave Rs 11 lakh each to three Ramlila clubs in Ambala, but announced nothing for us. If the government does not extend support, we fear that there will be no Barara festival in the future. Ashok Tanwar has announced that he will raise the issue,” said Tanvir Zafri, club convener.

Club members rued that there was no Dasehra ground in Barara. The club had been putting up effigies since 1987. It had made to the Limca Book of World Records five consecutive times for effigy height. This time, a 210-foot Ravana effigy had been erected for the five-day Barara festival.