In an example of communal harmony, since 46 years Muslim artisans in the district have been making effigies of demon king Ravana and his two brothers on the occasion of Dussehra for the famous Hanuman Tila temple here.
Huge crowds gather in the temple's premises on Dussehra to witness the burning of Ravan and his brothers, Kumbhkaram and Meghnath, whose effigies are crafted by Muslim artisans every year, Head of the temple committee, Salil Dwivedi said.
These craftsmen, for the rest of year, earn their livelihood by manufacturing fire crackers, he said.
Although, different artist-families have made the effigies in the last decades, they have all been Muslims, Dwivedi said.
Earlier, artists from towns of neighbouring Muzaffarnagar district like Kandhla, Baghra and Garhi Pukhta also used to descend here to make the effigies for Dussehra, the temple head said.
