Sat Oct 12 01:04:20 UTC 2024: ## Agra’s Ramlila Ground to Witness 120-Feet Tall Ravana Effigy Burning on Dussehra
**Agra, India:** The Ramlila ground in Agra is set to witness the burning of a 120-feet tall Ravana effigy on Dussehra, a tradition carried out by a Muslim family from Mathura for generations. 80-year-old Jaffar Ali, who has been making the effigies for the past 40 years, proudly states that Ram is everyone’s deity and they have been crafting these figures for the past 137 years.
The family, residing near the Bharatpur Gate in Mathura, has been meticulously working on the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad for the past 40 days. Jaffar Ali explained that the family has been associated with the Agra Ramlila for a long time, with his great-grandfather, Amir Baksh, initiating the tradition. It has been passed down through five generations, with Jaffar’s nephew, Amir, and his children now also involved.
Jaffar Ali emphasized that their family’s effigies have been used in the Ramlila for generations. He believes that religion should not be used to create animosity and that despite their Muslim faith, they have been an integral part of the Ramlila for decades. He even boasts of knowing the entire Ramayana by heart, emphasizing the universal appeal of the Hindu epic.
Echoing this sentiment, Amir, who has been involved for 40 years, stated that they experience no religious discrimination in Agra. They stay at the temple, are fed by Hindu devotees, and see no difference between the communities. To them, effigy making is a religious duty and Lord Ram is a deity for all.
This year’s Ravana effigy boasts a 3.5-feet tall crown, a 15-feet tall face, and 5-feet tall shoes. It requires 600 bamboo sticks, over 125 kilograms of waste paper, and around two quintals of flour paste to construct. The effigy will be erected using a crane and will feature a unique design. Once ignited, its eyes will emit sparks, the crown will rotate, and the head will fall piece by piece, culminating in a grand finale that will be controlled by a remote button.
The burning of the effigy is a major draw for people who come from far and wide to witness the spectacle, highlighting the enduring tradition of Dussehra celebrations in India.
First Piper 