In the business of preserving festive tradition

Neha Saini
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, October 18

Come Dasehra and the artists in the business of making effigies are the busiest lot in the city. The narrow bylanes on the Durgiana Temple periphery, near Lohgarh, turn an open air studio where the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarana and Meghnad are prepared.

This year, the tallest effigy reaches 130 ft. “We have created effigies that are 100-130 feet tall, with innovative designing like putting LED lights and decorative masks for Ravana. The ones that are made for large scale celebrations on order can cost between Rs 20,000 to Rs 1 lakh, depending on their height and design. The smaller ones can cost between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 and are mostly made for small celebrations by residential societies or at home,” says Satpal, who has been in this business for the past seven years.

Though the demand of effigies has increased over the years and smaller ones sell better, Satpal says the cost of creating them has gone up significantly. “Due to GST on certain items used for making effigies, the input cost has increased and our earnings have taken a hit.”

Raj Kumar, another artist, says that the business is already drying up as very few families are left in the city to take up the job. “Earlier, there were up to 30 families, who will work during Dasehra. Now, only 8-10 of them are left in this business. The younger generation is not taking up the art as it feels it doesn’t make for a lucrative career.”

Meanwhile, these artists provide effigies to nearby areas, including Ajnala, Rayya, Jandiala and Taran Taran. “I have made some 30 effigies and the tallest one is 80 feet tall,” says Raj Kumar. For the rest of the year, he makes paalkis and dolis for weddings, but for two months before Dasehra, he makes only effigies.

While the business of making effigies is not inviting many, Sonu, who works as a vegetable vendor, has taken up the art as a hobby. “Though it is a bit tough to survive only on this as a profession, it does have its perks. Off late, small effigies have become popular since people have started burning them near their homes,” he adds.