Ludhiana: Dussehra celebrations incomplete without these Muslim artisans

LUDHIANA: When effigies of Ravan, Meghnath and Kumbhkaran lined to go up in flames, a small set of people are among the happiest lot. Though they practise a different religion, they are proud of their creations as they know that their craft adds glitter to Dussehra celebrations. A group of Muslim artisans have come all the way from Uttar Pradesh to make some of biggest effigies (45 to 110 feet) in Ludhiana. Though Covid-19 had disrupted their business for two years, they are back in action.
Though their effigies will almost touch the sky, their margins have gone down in view of skyrocketing prices of raw material and labour charges. Those who are into this business for decades are also contemplating whether their young generations should tread the same path or not.
Asgar Ali, 52-year-old artisan from Agra, has no time to even scratch his head as he has to complete effigies of Ravan, Meghnath and Kumbhkaran for various Dussehra committees. Besides Ludhiana, Ali had been making effigies for surrounding areas and other cities for the past several years. Carrying forward the ancestral business of his family, Ali has 25 artisans in his group.
Ali, who is primarily a supplier of firecrackers in marriages in UP, says, “My love for effigy making and traveling brought me into this profession in 1992 when I prepared the effigies for the first time in Shimla. I got an appreciation token from then CM Shanta Kumar at Jakhu temple. In 2001 too, I got an appreciation token in Amritsar for making effigies there.”
He says, “I visited Ludhiana for the first time in 2004. I am now preparing effigies for committees in Daresi, Aggar Nagar, Rajguru Nagar, Khanna, Doraha, Mullanpur and some parts of Chandigarh, Ambala, Karnal and Panipat.”
“We start at least one-and-a-half month in advance as it takes a long time to prepare these effigies. But unfortunately, we do not get payment according to our work,” he says, adding that now they feel connected with this city and it has become a habit to come here every year. He said, “I came to Ludhiana during Covid times too, but the celebrations were not at a large scale.”
Two of his sons, who are preparing for various entrance exams, also find time to come to the city and look after the effigy making work. Sohail, one of his sons who has done BSc, says, “Our father is getting old, but he does not want to leave his ancestral business. So we come along and help him in preparing the effigies. We also enjoy working here because this work is in our blood too.” He says, “This work pays little due to hike in prices of raw material required for the task.”
On Dussehra ground in Sarabha Nagar, 55-year-old Aas Mohammad from Muzzafarnagar, UP, is also among those artisans who prepare effigies for Dussehra celebrations. He says, “I was in my teenage years when I joined this work with my father Maqsood Ahmed who had brought me here just for fun. I have been coming to this city for the past 40 years to making effigies with my son Chand Mohammad and other workers.” He said he is making effigies for Sarabha Nagar, bus stand and Shimlapuri areas.
Members of Dussehra committees appreciate the work of these artisans. Dinesh Marwaha from Sri Ram Leela and Dussehra committee, Daresi, says, “We are among the oldest Dussehra organising committees and people come here in large number to witness the celebrations. The artists come from Agra every year and these people are masters in their work.” He says seeing their work, others too have started giving them orders for effigies.
Anil Bassi from Sri Ram Leela and Dussehra committee Sarabha Nagar says, “In Ludhiana, we cannot find anybody who can prepare effigies. So for the past 40 years, the same artisans have been coming here.”
40 places to host celebrations
The Dussehra fairs are being organised in at least 40 places in small and large scale in the city. Some of the most popular events would be held at Daresi (the oldest and largest one), Sarabha Nagar, Aggar Nagar, Rajguru Nagar, BRS Nagar, bus stand, Shimlapuri, Chandigarh Road, Focal Point
Small-sized effigies
Local shopkeepers are providing small Ravan effigies for those who celebrate Dussehra in their colonies. The effigies are available from Rs 450 to Rs 1,000 depending on their size. These small effigies are also available online