📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Lothar Spurzem
Religion
Madhya Pradesh Village Worships Ravana Instead of Burning Him on Diwali
✍️ Amar Ujala · Madhya Pradesh
🗓 19 Oct 2026, 11:45 AM
👁 16
In a Madhya Pradesh village, devotees honor a 12‑foot Ravana statue during Vijayadashami, turning the traditional fire‑tobacco ritual into a unique act of reverence.
In a remote village in Madhya Pradesh, the customary Diwali practice of burning Ravana has been replaced by a distinct form of worship. Local residents gather around a towering 12‑foot statue of Ravana in the ancient Parama Kalin temple, offering prayers and incense.
The statue, carved from stone, stands as a focal point of the village’s cultural identity. It is believed that honoring Ravana brings blessings and protects the community from misfortune.
On Vijayadashami, the village hosts a Ramayana recitation and a Mahabhanda ceremony, drawing participants from neighboring areas. The event blends scriptural chanting with traditional dance, celebrating the triumph of good over evil.
For villagers, the practice underscores a nuanced view of mythology, where reverence for a complex character coexists with the broader moral lessons of the epic.
The statue, carved from stone, stands as a focal point of the village’s cultural identity. It is believed that honoring Ravana brings blessings and protects the community from misfortune.
On Vijayadashami, the village hosts a Ramayana recitation and a Mahabhanda ceremony, drawing participants from neighboring areas. The event blends scriptural chanting with traditional dance, celebrating the triumph of good over evil.
For villagers, the practice underscores a nuanced view of mythology, where reverence for a complex character coexists with the broader moral lessons of the epic.