Unseasonal rains damage Ravana effigies ahead of Dussehra celebrations

Unseasonal rainfall on Monday morning has dealt a severe blow to effigy makers in Titarpur, the country's primary hub for Ravana puppet manufacturing, with artisans reporting substantial damage to their inventory. The unexpected downpour has left craftspeople grappling with waterlogged stock just days before Dussehra celebrations, when demand for effigies typically peaks. Business owners with decades of experience in the trade say the recurring pattern of rainfall during Navratri season over recent years has become increasingly problematic, with moisture seeping into paper-mache and wooden structures and rendering them unusable. The damage comes at a financially critical time, as this period represents the peak sales season for effigy makers who have invested heavily in raw materials and labor. Artisans are now appealing for government intervention, specifically requesting insurance schemes designed to protect the handcrafted effigies from weather-related losses. Industry representatives say such coverage would help absorb losses from unexpected climate events and provide stability for small-scale craftspeople who depend entirely on Navratri season sales for their annual income.