Jaipur Ravans Turn Expensive, All Due to Unexpected Rain

Dusshera is just round the corner as it is going to be celebrated on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 this year. Ravan makers had started the preparations months ago by building numerous effigies of Ravan, Meghnad and Kumbhkaran in varied heights and sizes varying from 1 ft. high to 120 ft. high.

Dusshera Spirit Dampened and Ravans Ruined by Rain

But all due to the sudden downpour in Jaipur, lot many Ravan effigies have been ruined. The downpour has affected the bamboo artisans who come to the city every year to earn money during Dusshera. The rains have dampened the spirit of the artisans and also led to subsequent hike in the cost of Jaipur Ravans.

Ravan Mandis to See Hike in the Cost of Ravans

Almost all Ravan Mandis in Jaipur such as the Mansarovar Ravan mandi, Ajmer Road, Nirman Nagar, Adarsh Nagar, Gujar ki Thadi and Gopalpura, had effigies of Ravan, Meghnad and Kumbhkaran on display in the open. The sudden downpour in the city of Jaipur has dampened them. Many of the effigies are not standing tall anymore. Some have lost their colours.

Most of the effigies need rework; lots of it. This is going to increase the cost of Ravans by 20-30% in Jaipur.

Artisans from nearby areas of Jaipur, other districts of Rajasthan, MP and Gujarat make Ravan effigies every year in the city. These effigies that are 1 ft. to 120 ft. high were costing from Rs.200 to Rs.1,00,000 this year. Stats show that around 15,000 effigies had been prepared for this Dusshera.

However, effigies of around Rs.40,00,000 have been destroyed by the rain.

What do vendors have to say?

Vendors are saying that they were expecting good business in the coming 3 days but now that the effigies have been destroyed, they will have to rework on them. Along with money, this has also caused a complete waste of their efforts. Artisans who come to Jaipur from different areas say that they have nowhere to live so where would they have kept their effigies. There was no way they could have saved the losses and damage.

A 10ft. effigy which costed between Rs.8,000-Rs.10,000 will now cost between Rs.10,000-Rs.12,000.

Orders Cancelled, Artisans Face Huge Losses This Dusshera

Jaipur Ravan Mandis have not only been doing well here in the city but have also been exporting effigies of Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad to different parts of the country since the past few years. But Jaipur rains in the last 2 days have ruined it all.

It is next to impossible for artisans to complete all orders in time now. Even if they work day and night, they cannot prepare all 10,000 effigies in time as Dusshera is just 3 days away.

Mohan Rajput, a vendor from Jaipur’s Ravan Mandi told that he had an order of Rs.1 lakh for a 120 ft. high Ravan from Mumbai. But there’s no way he could rebuild the effigy and deliver it to Mumbai in time.

The only way to make up a bit for the huge losses we’ll suffer is to recreate a few of the effigies and sell them for higher prices. A minimum hike of 20-30% will come in the cost of Ravan this Dusshera.