**Indore’s Ravana Market Buzzes with Festive Spirit Ahead of Dussehra**
Indore (Madhya Pradesh): With Dussehra around the corner, the festive spirit is in full swing at Indore’s Ravana Market near Malwa Mill. More than 30 shops have been set up, offering a vibrant collection of Ravana effigies in all shapes and sizes. A similar market can also be found between Annapurna and Mhow Naka, where Ravana idols are sold.
The effigies range from as small as 1 foot to towering heights of up to 51 feet. Prices vary accordingly, from Rs 1,000 to Rs 51,000, depending on the size and design. This year, some artists are creating themes that reflect 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,” said 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 become a bustling hub of activity, offering not only traditional Ravana figures but also symbolic representations of current social issues. Kunare revealed that the estimated turnover this season is between Rs 40 to Rs 50 lakh, marking a steady rise in business compared to previous years. Preparations for this year’s market had begun even before Shradh to meet the growing demand.
The artistic finesse behind these effigies comes from skilled painters like Deepak Jatav, who shared that the cost of painting ranges from Rs 200 to Rs 4,000, depending on the level of detail. “Every Ravana face has a story to tell—sometimes it’s not just the ten heads of mythology, but the ten faces of today’s evils,” he explained.
Traditionally, artisans collected bamboo, paper, and cloth manually to create the effigies. However, today most materials are pre-made and sourced from suppliers, allowing for quicker assembly and increased production capacity.
As the festive season peaks, families, school groups, and event organisers continue to flock to the Ravana Market, eager to select the perfect effigy to burn—not just in celebration of Lord Ram’s victory, but also as a symbolic gesture to destroy the “Ravanas” of today’s world.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/indore/ravana-market-booms-ahead-of-dussehra-in-indore
