Kota’s 75ft tall 3D Ravan effigy to be burnt step by step with remote

Kota: The 29th National Dussehra Fair would be jointly organised by Kota Municipal Corporations North and South in the Dussehra ground here on Wednesday. At least 150-200 labourers and 3 cranes, including a hydra crane are involved in erecting the 75-feet tall 3D effigy of Ravan and around 50-feet tall effigies of his brother Kumbhkaran and son Meghnad at Dussehra ground a day before Dussehra on Tuesday.
The effigy of Raavan, to be functional on an electronic system, would be burnt step by step using a remote control while displaying bursts of crackers and casting sparkles through his eyes followed by emission of smoke through nose and ears.
The sword in one of his hands would glitter and the shield in the other hand would explode. Besides, earrings, waist band and stomach of the effigies were filled with gunpowder that would go off one by one illuminating the sky.
The effigies of Raavan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad were furnished with additional firecrackers this time so that the people reaching the Dussehra ground could enjoy lighting and firecrackers play for long time, said Manju Mehra, president of Dussehra fair committee and mayor of Kota Municipal Corporation (South).
This year’s Ravan effigy is characterized with several new features that includes rotation of his neck to 180 degree, winking of eyes, movement of lips and busting of different crackers in various parts of Ravan’s body.
Pavan Meena, deputy mayor KMC (South) said, “The crackers used in the effigies are green crackers, which would light up for 15- 20 minutes enabling the people to enjoy the crackers sound and lighting longer.”
Talking about the Ravan effigy, Delhi based contractor Anish said, “A team of 15 artisans were engaged for a month in making the Ravan effigy using one and a half quintal of waste paper, one thousand bamboos, 2 quintals of string (sutli), one and a half quintal refined wheat flour and one quintal of colour papers.”