New Delhi: As Dussehra approaches, several Ramleela committees across Delhi are competing to make their Ravana effigies the biggest and most impressive, complete with stunning special effects and star-studded events.

One of the most popular attractions is the Luv Kush Ramleela at the Red Fort grounds. This year, the committee is set to install a 100-foot Ravana, alongside a 90-foot Kumbhkaran and an 80-foot Meghnath. These massive effigies will feature mechanical movements such as moving hands holding swords and rotating eyeballs to make them appear lifelike. Sound effects, including the iconic chant “Hey Ram,” will be played through loudspeakers to enhance the experience. The cost of setting up these effigies is over Rs 1 lakh.

"Our effigies will have moving hands with swords in them and rotating eyeballs that will make look more life-like. We will also play the sound of 'Hey Ram' from loudspeakers," Arjun Kumar, the committee's president, told PTI.

The committee has also planned a grand cultural program, continuing its tradition of inviting popular Bollywood stars. Over the years, celebrities like Kangana Ranaut, Prabhas, Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, and Hema Malini have graced the event. This year, several film personalities have been invited, with invitation cards designed as a tribute to the Indian Armed Forces, honoring their bravery and sacrifice.

The stage itself will be a spectacle, featuring a massive replica of the Somnath temple measuring 150 feet wide and 45 feet high. Created by skilled artisans from Rajasthan and Gujarat over three months, the set will be illuminated with special lighting and visual effects, incorporating traditional art with modern digital technology and Artificial Intelligence to bring Ram’s story alive like never before.

At Ramlila Maidan, another committee is preparing similarly grand effigies — a 90-foot Ravana, an 80-foot Kumbhkaran, and a 70-foot Meghnath. Their team has invested around Rs 2 lakh in crafting these effigies themselves.

Meanwhile, the Shri Dharmic Leela Committee at Madhavdas Park near Red Fort grounds is offering a slightly smaller display with an 80-foot Ravana, 70-foot Kumbhkaran, and 60-foot Meghnath. Their effigies, built at a cost of Rs 1 lakh, will feature eco-friendly green firecrackers to reduce pollution.

"We have invited the Prime Minister, the President, the Vice-President and other leaders including Sonia Gandhi to our Ramleela event," said Dheeraj Dhar Gupta, who heads the Shri Dharmic Leela.

"With such esteemed guests, we also have to ensure strict security arrangements. That is why our effigies are relatively smaller in size. But they will be filled with green firecrackers, the bursting sounds will be played through speakers," he added.

PTI inputs