NEW DELHI: As the festive season begins, preparations for Dussehra are in full swing at Tagore Garden, where the area beneath the metro station has been transformed into a bustling workshop.
Here, towering effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhkaran are taking shape. Craftsmen work around the clock, racing against time to meet the deadline.
Among them is Jawant, a farmer from Bijnor, who comes to Delhi each year for this two-month seasonal trade before returning to his fields.
The effigies vary widely in size and price—smaller ones, standing 30 to 35 feet tall, cost around Rs 15,000, while the grander 70 to 80-foot versions can go up to Rs 1.5 lakh, depending on the intricacy of their design.
Lending their support, young boys from nearby Subhash Nagar are also hard at work, ensuring that everything is ready on time.
Across the city, the atmosphere was electric in CR Park on Mahalaya on Sunday, which marks the arrival of Goddess Durga. From early morning, idols were being transported to pandals amid joyous fanfare. The air resonated with the thunderous beats of dhakis and the swirling movements of the dhunuchi naach.
