Panchkula: A towering 221-foot Ravan effigy being built at Shalimar Ground in Sector 5, Panchkula, will be the centrepiece of Dussehra celebrations this year. Organisers said around 80% of the work has been completed, with the remaining expected to be finished in the next few days.The effigy will be erected on Oct 20, a day before Dussehra, and will be set on fire using a remote control. Organisers said electric firecrackers would be used for the first time to entertain visitors and reduce air pollution.“We are doing this for the first time. Electric firecrackers will be used to entertain people. The fireworks will go on for about half an hour or 45 minutes. This is being done to curb air pollution. The effigy will also have green crackers,” said Sandeep Gupta, general secretary, Shri Mata Mansa Devi Charitable Trust.Gupta said around Rs 60 lakh to Rs 70 lakh would be spent on the effigy, which, he claimed, would be the tallest in the world.Last year, the Ravan effigy could not be set on fire using the remote control and had to be ignited manually. Gupta said rain before the event had affected the remote-control system.“Last year, rain had played a spoilsport before the event. It had impacted the remote-control system. This time, to avert such a situation, we have brought back our old expert, Tajinder Singh Chauhan. He has extensive experience and there will be no issue this time,” Gupta said.Artisan Tajinder Singh Chauhan, who came from Barara with his team, said this year’s effigy would stand out not only for its size but also for its technical features. As many as 18 remote-controlled blast points are being installed to make the burning ceremony more elaborate, along with around 2,000 fireworks.Ravan’s face, made of fibreglass, will be around 25 feet long and 10 feet wide. The crown will measure 55 feet, the sword 50 feet, while the torso will be 90 feet long. The arms and legs will each measure around 40 feet.The structure is being built using wood and iron pipes. It is now being covered with velvet fabric, followed by painting and installation of fireworks.
