Bareilly: The looming towers of Ravana that once dominated Dussehra grounds are getting noticeably smaller in Bareilly this year, as artisans who have crafted effigies for generations pare back size and cost in the face of inflation and fewer orders.
Legacy in decline amid rising costs
In Malukpur's narrow lane known locally as Ravana Wali Gali, two families who have practised effigy-making for close to two centuries say they are reducing the height of their figures to remain financially viable. Once common at 30, 40 and even 50 feet, effigies in the city are now typically being made to about 20 feet.
Artisans attribute the reduction primarily to higher prices for raw materials such as bamboo, and to growing labour costs. Demand has also dipped, leaving craftsmen with fewer commissions during the Dussehra season and forcing many to look for alternate work once festivities end.
"Preparations begin as early as the month of Sawan. This time, I have received orders for around 12 to 14 effigies from various places. Inflation has affected the height of the effigies as well as the earnings of the artisans. Previously, effigies were made up to 30, 40 and even 50 feet tall. Now, there is a greater demand for 20-foot effigies," said Virendra Kumar Chandra, who is continuing the craft he learnt from his father-in-law, Vishwanath Thakur.
The account underlines a wider strain on traditional crafts. Reduced commissions and rising expenditure mean the margins on each effigy have narrowed. For families that alternate between making Dussehra effigies and decorating taziyas for Muharram, the seasonal income is growing increasingly uncertain.
- Two families in Malukpur have practised effigy-making for nearly 200 years.
- Current typical effigy height in Bareilly: around 20 feet.
- Orders this season for one artisan: approximately 12–14 effigies.
Economic and cultural consequences
For the artisans, the decline is both economic and cultural. Making a towering effigy requires more bamboo, larger frames, extra labour for construction and transport, and greater outlay on materials used for modelling and painting. When buyers prefer smaller, cheaper effigies, artisans must alter traditional methods and scale down craftsmanship.
Those who learned the skill as part of family lineage warn that the craft may not survive another generation unless the economics change. Several households now look for day work after the festival season to supplement earnings, rather than devote themselves full-time to maintaining the effigy-making tradition.
| Aspect | Earlier | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Common effigy height | 30–50 feet | ~20 feet |
| Orders received (one artisan) | Not specified | 12–14 effigies |
Community members and festival organisers face choices as well: smaller effigies reduce spectacle but lower costs for event promoters and municipal arrangements. For devotees and visitors who equate Dussehra enjoyment with grand visuals, the change may feel palpable.
Local craftsmen say sustaining the tradition will require a combination of measures — greater market support, stable supply prices for bamboo and materials, and initiatives that connect artisans to larger markets where traditional work can command better prices. Without such interventions, families fear the knowledge passed down through generations will not find successors willing to take on a trade with shrinking returns.
The shift in Bareilly mirrors reports from other districts in Uttar Pradesh, where artisans making festival effigies and ritual decorations are feeling the pinch of inflation. For lanes like Ravana Wali Gali, the Dussehra season remains a vital livelihood; whether it can continue to be so will depend on both market demand and policymakers' attention to sustaining traditional crafts.
