Ram Lila in the Hills: I

I have been living for three years at a place which supplies effigies of Ravan, Meghnad and Kumbhakaran to the entire city for setting alight on Dussehra. About a month before Dussehra the Ravanwallah (for that is what they are called) start splicing bamboo and slowly bend the and fasten the flexible strips to give shape to a framework of the heads of the three demons. The work is modular - one part of the pavement fills up with bamboo frames of noses, another with ears, a terrace becomes the makeshift storehouse for scores of moustaches.The framework once assembled are provided with a brown paper skin, then covered with coloured paper - even golden and silver coloured papers. These effigies are stuffed with inflammables and fire crackers. The sight of colouful demons lined up along the road is one to behold.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shammi-60/3593224231/

Though I have had the occasion to witness a splendid instance of Ravan burning I have never witnesses the nine day Ramlila. This has been due to two reasons. One, the Navratra coincides with the Durga Puja and I generally spend my Durga Puja in Kolkata - not this year though :( Two, in Delhi the Ramlila performances are likely to be extremely crowded affairs heavily dominated by political and commercial interference.