Shimla, Oct. 17 -- Cutting across all religious barriers, a Muslim family from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh is continuing a decades-old tradition of making effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad for Dussehra celebrations at Shimla's historic Jakhu temple ahead of the festival on October 20. These effigies would be engulfed in flames as a mark of victory of good over evil.

A young Muslim artist from Meerut, Mohammad Sohil, said his family had been associated with the tradition for around 20 years, following in the footsteps of its elders. The family's wider tradition of making Dussehra effigies, according to the account provided, spans nearly 70 years.

"We have been coming here for the past 20 years. Earlier, our elders used to come, and ...