Panchkula: For members of the Shree Ram Leela Yuva Manch, it was a bolt out of the blue. Midway through the work, artisans making effigies of Ravan, Meghnath and Kumbhkaran allegedly fled with Rs 1.5 lakh. Although the setback came just a few days before the Dussehra celebrations at Parade Ground, the manch members had faith and artificial intelligence (AI) to fall back on.It was too late to look for other artisans, so they called artistes from the Ramleela they organise at Yavnika Open Air Theatre in Sector 5. The group worked day and night to complete the effigies, with some guidance from AI.“Although the structures were almost complete, the most difficult part, the faces, was left. A team was dispatched overnight to Delhi and Burari to get material. We completed the effigies, each of which is about 100 feet tall, and erected them with the help of a JCB. We used AI to learn how to do it and consulted those with experience,” Vineet Thakral, treasurer of Shree Ram Leela Yuva Manch, said.For Vineet and the manch as a whole, the effigies made this time are special. “This year, our effigies have been built by common people with their own hands. Artistes who play Ram, Lakshman, Sita, Ravan, Kaikeyi, Hanuman and all others contributed. We feel that the Ravan effigy has been built by Lord Ram Himself. Those who come to watch the effigy burning here will feel the difference,” Vineet said.For the artistes, the past few days have been a labour of love and faith. Manch president Dharampal Sharma said, “The artistes have slept for about three hours for the last three days. They have been performing on stage at night and making effigies during the day.”Meanwhile, the organisers have approached the police, alleging cheating and misappropriation of funds by the effigy makers, whose phones are switched off.Tallest Ravan at Shalimar GroundThe tallest Ravan effigy in the Tricity towers over Shalimar Ground at 221 feet. Sandeep Gupta, general secretary of the Shri Mata Mansa Devi Charitable Trust, said chief minister Nayab Singh Saini will set the effigy on fire using a remote control.
