Ravana Markets in Jaipur

With Navratri Durga Puja, fasts and entertaining Garba Raas events going on in the city, we should not forget about the upcoming Dusshera celebrations. The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil as the demon king Ravana got killed at the hands of Lord Rama on this day.

Everyone remains excited about visiting various Dusshera grounds in the city with kids and family to watch Ram Leela acts and then see the Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad effigies burn. But where do these effigies come from?

How are Ravana effigies made?

Well, in Jaipur you can see a number of roadside scenes filled with both ten-headed and single-headed Ravana statues. The colourful Ravana and Meghnads and Kumbhkarans are built with bamboo and then beautifully wrapped and decorated in paper and cloth. These bamboo structures are made in varied heights and sizes, which also affect their cost.

Life of the Bamboo artisans, the Ravana makers

Bamboo artisans from nearby areas such as Barmer, Pali, Banswara and Sanganer, move to the Jaipur city once in a year to earn money during the Dusshera festivities. These artisans use their art at hand to efficiently craft huge effigies that go as high as 135 ft. in height along with the smaller 10-30 ft. ones. They say that the bamboo they use comes from Assam.

Artisans also shared how they make small houses alongside the road during the season but post the festivities they have to move to nearby areas. While they lighten up the festive time for people of Jaipur, they lead most of their lives in poverty and lack of skill recognition.

Where to get your Ravana in Jaipur?

While there are a lot of roadside areas in Jaipur where you can see a display of various colourful Ravana effigies in varied heights, there are some prominent locations in the city where you can get your Ravana from. Some of the famous Ravan markets or Ravan mandis of Jaipur include:

1. Ravana Mandi, Mansarovar Metro Station, Mansarovar, Jaipur

2. Gujar ki Thadi

3. Chomu Pulia

4. Purani Chungi, Near Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur

5. Queens Road, Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur

6. Tonk Road

7. B-2 Bypass, near Entertainment Paradise (EP)

Jaipur Ravan Dahan

Ravana figurines are set on fire on Dusshera at various places in the city. While almost every other colony or community celebrates Dusshera in its compound, there are a few popular Dusshera grounds that people love visiting. For some must see Ravan Dahan festivities and Dusshera Fairs in Jaipur, you’ll have to visit public grounds like Dusshera Maidan in Adarsh Nagar, Vidhyadhar Nagar Stadium and huge grounds in Shastri Nagar, Mansarovar, Pratap Nagar and Sanganer.

In these grounds effigies of great height are burnt. Effigies are also burnt in the outskirts of Jaipur where people visit to enjoy well-organised Dusshera fairs with swings and food stalls. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm amidst burning of effigies and colourful fairs. Fireworks add to the excitement of the onlookers and there are some stalls with entertainment activities which further delight people.