**Indore’s Ravana Market Buzzes with Festive Spirit Ahead of Dussehra**
Indore, Madhya Pradesh – With Dussehra just around the corner, the festive spirit is on full display at Indore’s Ravana Market near Malwa Mill. Over 30 shops have been set up here, offering a vibrant collection of Ravana effigies in all shapes and sizes. Another similar market bustling with activity is located between Annapurna and Mhow Naka.
The effigies on sale range from as small as 1 foot to towering creations standing 51 feet tall. Prices vary accordingly, from Rs 1,000 to Rs 51,000 depending on the size and intricacy of the design. This year, some artists are innovating with themes inspired by modern-day evils such as terrorism, the Sindoor operation, and the controversial Raja case.
“Earlier, everything was handmade—bamboo frames, painted faces, and stitched clothes. Now, with higher demand, we use readymade materials and printed designs for faster production,” explained Jitendra Kunare, organiser of the Ravana market. He added, “Some of the larger effigies require professional printers to get the designs just right.”
The market has evolved into a bustling hub, offering not only traditional Ravana figures but also symbolic representations of current societal issues. Kunare revealed that this season’s turnover is estimated at Rs 40 to Rs 50 lakh, marking a steady rise in business compared to previous years. Preparations had already begun even before Shradh to meet the increasing demand.
The artistic finesse behind these effigies comes from skilled painters like Deepak Jatav. He shared that the cost of painting varies from Rs 200 to Rs 4,000, depending on the level of detail involved. “Every Ravana face has a story to tell—sometimes it’s not just the ten heads of mythology, but ten faces of today’s evils,” Jatav said.
Where once artisans collected bamboo, paper, and cloth manually, today most materials are pre-made and sourced from suppliers. This shift has allowed for quicker assembly and increased production capacity to keep pace with the growing festival enthusiasm.
As Dussehra approaches, families, school groups, and event organisers flock to the Ravana Market, keen to select the perfect effigy. The burning of these effigies is not just a celebration of Lord Ram’s victory, but also a powerful symbolic gesture to destroy the “Ravanas” of today’s world.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/indore/ravana-market-booms-ahead-of-dussehra-in-indore
