📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Pete Birkinshaw
Religion
Gaya Artist Makes Ravana Effigies for 59 Years: No Religion for Artists
✍️ Amar Ujala · Gaya
🗓 20 Oct 2026, 02:31 PM
👁 17
Mohammad Jafar Alam, a Muslim artist in Gaya, has been crafting Ravana effigies for 59 years, asserting that art transcends religious boundaries.
In the city of Gaya, Bihar, a unique tradition of religious harmony is being upheld by Mohammad Jafar Alam, a Muslim artist who has dedicated the last 59 years to creating effigies for the Ravana Dahan festival. His work is displayed at the Gandhi Maidan, a prominent public space in the city known for its cultural and religious significance.
For the upcoming Dussehra celebration, Alam is preparing large-scale effigies that reflect his decades of expertise. This year, the centerpiece will be a 60-foot tall figure of Ravana, accompanied by 55-foot tall effigies of Kumbhakarna and Meghnath.
Alam has consistently emphasized the secular nature of his craft, stating that an artist does not belong to any specific religion. His long-standing contribution to the festival highlights a spirit of communal unity and artistic dedication in the region.
For the upcoming Dussehra celebration, Alam is preparing large-scale effigies that reflect his decades of expertise. This year, the centerpiece will be a 60-foot tall figure of Ravana, accompanied by 55-foot tall effigies of Kumbhakarna and Meghnath.
Alam has consistently emphasized the secular nature of his craft, stating that an artist does not belong to any specific religion. His long-standing contribution to the festival highlights a spirit of communal unity and artistic dedication in the region.