In the famous workshops of Ambala, where giant effigies are traditionally brought to life for the festival of Dussehra, the mood is one of financial distress. Artisans who have spent months preparing the demon king Ravana say that “inflation and taxation” are the real villains this year.
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The GST Impact: Makers highlighted that bamboo, the structural backbone of any effigy, is now significantly more expensive. “Earlier, we bought bamboo in bulk without such heavy tax burdens. Now, between GST and rising transport costs, a single pole costs almost twice what it did a few years ago,” explained an artisan in Ambala City.
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Paper and Adhesives: The cost of specialized colored paper, fluorescent sheets, and the flour-based glue (loi) used to assemble the effigies has risen by 30-50%. Artisans pointed out that while paper attracts a GST of 12% to 18% depending on the type, these small-scale creators often cannot claim Input Tax Credit (ITC), leading to a direct hit on their margins.
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Height vs. Budget: Due to the cost of materials, many local clubs that usually order 50-foot effigies are opting for 35-foot versions this year. “The committees have fixed budgets. If we keep the height the same, we lose money on labor and materials,” said another maker.
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The Record-Maker’s Challenge: Even the famous Barara Ramlila Club in Ambala, known for creating some of the world’s tallest Ravana effigies, has previously cited GST as a major factor in capping the height of their structures. In 2024, the pressure has reached a breaking point for smaller neighborhood artisans who lack the corporate sponsorships enjoyed by larger clubs.
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Labor Costs: Beyond materials, the daily wages for skilled laborers—many of whom travel from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for the season—have also increased to keep up with the general cost of living, further adding to the total bill.
Market Reaction: Local residents and festival organizers are worried that the “grandeur of Dussehra” is being compromised. While the government has previously discussed tax relief for certain handicrafts, effigy making—classified as a seasonal, unorganized sector activity—continues to grapple with the complexities of the modern tax regime.
