MEERUT: Mohammad Aslam, 63, and his family have been in the business of making Ravan effigies for Ramlila for five generations in Uttar Pradesh. This year, their major highlight is a 60 feet tall effigy of the demon which will be put to flames in Meerut’s largest Ramlila in Sadar Bazar.
Aslam's brother, Yunus, too, has been in the same trade for decades.
The family has been busy giving the final touches. This time, Ravan here will also look like a “coronavirus” which the family says "will soon disappear from the lives of people".
The "Covid Ravan" will be set on fire in Kankarkhera on Friday.
With little time remaining, Aslam’s sons Akram, 28, Waseem, 26, and Salman, 24, are assisting him in the work.
Akram, sitting a few metres away, is about to finish a Ravan effigy for a local family who wants to burn the demon on their terrace. Mridul Kumar waits patiently with his 12-year-old son Sanket to take it home.
“I, too, want my son to study. To earn well. This trade is dying,” Akram says.
The family is not only involved in making tall effigies of the mythological demon, but also gives shape to "smaller Ravans". These are usually sold to people who want to host events in private spaces and set the demon on fire outside their homes or other local premises.
Since the trade was badly hit last year due to the pandemic, Aslam is expecting a little more earning for his family this year.
“Humare abba Ravan banate the, unke abba bhi. Humare bete bhi Ravan banate hain aur unke bete bhi (my father used to make Ravan and his father as well. My son makes Ravan now and his son joins him),” Aslam explains to TOI.
His family, who also makes "tazia", decorates wedding pandals and sells kites whenever there is a festive occasion, feels happy to spread the "message of brotherhood and harmony in society".
They take a lot of pride in their work too. Yunus says that his work is the best in the city. They work meticulously on minute details while giving shape to the effigy with the "aim of making it look as real as possible".
They sell 10 to 15 feet Ravan for local areas and households for Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,500 while a 50-60 feet effigy costs Rs 25,000. Almost 60% to 70% of their income is usually spent in the expenses of shaping up the demon, they say.
“We want Covid to end this year. Our business has suffered enough due to it. We had to work as labourers as there was very little work,” Yunus adds when asked about his favourite "Covid Ravan" and the other demons ready to go up in flames.
