Inflation hits Dussehra in Chhattisgarh

Inflation has increased the cost to “kill” the demon king Ravana in this year’s Dussehra in Chhattisgarh.

The cost of making the effigies of Ravana, his son Meghnadh and brother Kumbhakarna—that are set on fire to celebrate the Vijayadasami—has increased more than three folds besides hike in the cost of other materials including firework following double digit inflation rate in the country.

The skyrocketing price of commodities had cast its shadow in “killing” the demon king Ravana to signifying the victory of good over evil. But the organisers are enthusiastic to celebrate the event with pomp and gaiety.

“The expense in making effigies and organising the event has certainly increased beyond expectation this year. But it will not dither the enthusiasm to celebrate the event to signify the victory over the evil,” minister of state for industry and chief convenor of famous Sarvjanik Dussehra Utsav Samiti (SDUS) Rajesh Munat told Business Standard.

The SDUS has been celebrating the festival in WRS colony ground for the last 57 years, increasing the height of effigies every year. This year, the samiti has prepared 101-feet effigy of Ravana besides 85-feet high effigies of Meghnadh and Kumbhakarna.

The organisers had thought of increasing the height of effigies further this year but the high cost of commodities prevented them to go for a big deal this year. But the SDUS continued to maintain the tradition and organise the festival by burning the effigy of the 101-feet high Ravana—six feet high as compared to last year’s effigy.

According to SDUS office bearers, the total expense will cross Rs 8 lakh this year as against last year’s Rs 3 lakh.

Many small Dussehra Utsav samiti in the state capital have decided to abandon burning the effigies this year. “The cost of bamboo and other materials has gone up more than three folds in last one year and now, the cost of making effigy comes to about Rs 200 per foot as compared to Rs 60 per foot last year,” said Rahul Rajak of Bhanpuri—at the outskirts of the state capital.

Rahul’s family has been making the effigies for Dussehra for the last three decades. The family had prepared more than six dozens effigies for sale, but failed to get the booking of even a dozen effigies.