Dussehra 2024: Dussehra, the festival of victory of good over evil, is being celebrated on 12 October this time. For this, effigies of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbhakaran are being prepared in the exhibition ground of Aligarh. These effigies are being prepared by Shaukat Ali. When Ravana dies here, Shaukat's house runs. Shaukat works with his family to prepare the effigies of Ravana. Shaukat's grandfather, father and now he himself have been engaged in this work for the last 30 years.

Shaukat Ali told that he is a resident of Danpur village of Bulandshahr. Our grandfather and father also used to do this work and we also do the same work. I have been doing this work for about 30 years. I have been making the effigy of Ravana in Aligarh since 2008. I left it for four-five years in between and before that I made it continuously for 15 years. This time the three effigies are of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbhakaran, they are 65, 60 and 55 feet tall. 

Shaukat Ali said that we came here on 11 September and have been working continuously since then. After that we work hard throughout the year but this is the time when we manage to cover our expenses for about one or two months. Our grandfather started it, then our father started it and then we started. Look, this is our business. We have no objection to this work. Despite being Muslims, we are happy that our country has civilization, there is nothing wrong in it. There is no harm in the work. We are raising our family by making Ravan. 

Tight security arrangements for Dussehra:
Preparations are being finalized by the Ramlila Committee and administrative officials for Dussehra to be held on October 12 at the Exhibition Ground in Aligarh. Aligarh's ADM City Amit Bhatt said that keeping the festival in mind, arrangements are being made by the police administration for security. From cleanliness to other arrangements, everything is being fine-tuned.