The last day of the Ramlila was celebrated earlier this week. People spent the week building huge effigies of Ravina, the bad guy in the story, then stuffed them with newspaper and firecrackers. All over Delhi Monday night people crowded the streets, fireworks blasted off of rooftops and giant paper-mache men were exploded. A block from our house was a huge celebration, with four Ravinas, a stage with Bangara dancers and music, and very close fireworks.
The Ravinas were lit in succession, the time in-between varying. We watched from a distance, as to not get blasted by fireworks or huge explosions of fire and debris. The Ravinas would start smoking from the top, and within a matter of seconds only a thin frame was left. They exploded with billows of fire and left mushroom clouds of smoke. It was entirely unsafe and insane.
