Pollution under control: Ravan appears in natural colours

Jaipur, Sep 20: Eco-friendly natural colours are giving a traditional Rajasthani touch to demon King Ravana along with Kumbhkarana and Meghnada for the coming Dusshera festival.

Although the effigies will go up in flames ultimately, epitomising the victory of good over evil, paints containing harmful chemicals are being avoided in an efforts to lower the pollution levels.

The state capital's biggest "Ravan Mandi" on New Sanganer Road is bustling with artisans giving shape to colourful, eye-catching effigies. Some of these are being dressed up in traditional Rajasthani attire, complete with "mojari", shoes in various colours decorated with floral and other patterns. In a departure from tradition, some of the Ravanas would be wearing boots this year.

Maharaj Jagdish, who has been making Ravans for the past 18 years, said, "this is the first time we will be using natural colours to paint the effigies as they are non-toxic. We are also using coloured glazed paper to decorate the effigies." He said the natural colours being made from turmeric powder, mehendi, henna and flowers like amaltas, marigold, chrysanthemum and pomegranate seeds. Turmeric powder imparts yellow colour while crushed spinach, coriander and leaves of gulmohar bring out the bright green colour.

The natural colours are cheaper as compared to synthetic ones.

Maharaj Jagdish said, "we used to buy synthetic paints ranging from Rs 170 to Rs 280 per litre. But natural colours are less costly and hopefully will increase our profit." Experts say the natural colours are biodegradable and non-toxic while the synthetic paints are not only non-biodegradable but also hazardous for health.

Synthetic paints with heavy metals like cadmium, alkyl phenols, polyurethane, short-chained chlorinated paraffin and titanium oxide and zinc oxide as constituents emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which disrupt the endocrine system, according to experts. The alkyl phenols are capable of causing birth defects while polyurethane degrades into toxic chemicals and pass into food chain.

Metals like cadmium, carbonic compounds, strontium and phosphorus, which are used as pigment in paints can cause damage to the kidney, they added.

The black colour has lead oxide, green contains copper sulphate while red is usually mercury sulphite.

The craftsmen, who hail from Sanchor tehsil of Jalore district, said around 10,000 Ravan effigies being made here will find their way to various parts of Rajasthan. Meanwhile there is a high demand for Ravan wearing boots this year, Babu, one of the workers, said.

Around 150 people are engaged in making Ravanas using bamboo, wires, newspapers and flour. The bamboo comes all the way from Assam available at a cost of Rs 75 for 24 foot.

Ravan effigies loaded with firecrackers that can go up to a height of 80 feet, although the 30 to 50 feet ones are usually bought by organisations in various localities.

UNI