Rainproof 221.5-Foot Raavan Effigy in Kota Withstands Heavy Rainfall Before Dussehra Celebrations

While heavy rainfall across India disrupted festive celebrations and caused many Raavan effigies to collapse before Dussehra, a remarkable structure in Kota, Rajasthan remained impressively intact.

Standing at an extraordinary height of 221.5 feet, this Raavan effigy in Kota is aiming to establish a record as one of India's tallest festival structures. The team behind this creation earned additional praise when their fiberglass effigy withstood severe rainfall that caused extensive damage to infrastructure and agricultural crops throughout Rajasthan.

The effigy features impressive dimensions: its face alone measures approximately 25 feet high and weighs around 3 quintals. The shoes span 40 feet, while the crown reaches 60 feet, and the sword extends 50 feet in length. The creators utilized 400 meters of velvet fabric to outfit this massive figure.

During Thursday's Dussehra celebration, which marks the conclusion of both Durga Puja and Navratri festivals, this towering effigy will be ignited at 25 designated points. Remote-controlled sensors at each location will be sequentially activated, engulfing the structure in flames while triggering colorful fireworks displays.

Tejinder Singh from Haryana, whose team constructed the effigy, explained: "We designed this Raavan specifically with precipitation in mind. Considering climate change and unpredictable weather patterns, we completely avoided using paper materials, making it fully rainproof. The rainfall actually helped clean the structure."

The ritual of Raavan dahan, where effigies are burned to commemorate Lord Rama's triumph over Raavan, symbolizes good prevailing over evil. In recent years, Kota's celebrations have attracted substantial crowds, featuring innovative effigies with moving heads or mouths.

When heavy rain struck Rajasthan on Tuesday, other traditional effigies were reduced to waterlogged, broken components with their decorative paint completely washed away.