📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Michael Gunther
Religion
Devotees in Madhya Pradesh Seek Ravana’s Blessings and Mourn His Dussehra Demise
✍️ The New Indian Express
🗓 21 Oct 2026, 04:15 AM
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Followers in Madhya Pradesh gathered during Dussehra to pray for the legendary king Ravana’s blessings and to mourn his symbolic death.
During the Dussehra festivities, a small congregation of devotees assembled in a village in Madhya Pradesh to honour the mythic figure Ravana. The gathering, observed on the day traditionally associated with his defeat, focused on prayers for his blessings rather than the usual triumphal chants.
Participants performed simple rituals, lighting lamps and offering flowers while reciting verses that praise Ravana’s strength and devotion to his mother. They expressed sorrow over his ‘death’ as portrayed in the epic narrative, treating it as a symbolic loss rather than a historical event.
While Ravana is commonly depicted as the antagonist in the Ramayana, a growing number of regional followers view him as a complex character embodying valor and loyalty. The Madhya Pradesh devotees highlighted this perspective, emphasizing that reverence for Ravana coexists with mainstream celebrations of Lord Rama.
Local cultural observers noted that such gatherings reflect the pluralistic fabric of Indian traditions, where multiple interpretations of mythological figures can emerge alongside mainstream religious practices.
Participants performed simple rituals, lighting lamps and offering flowers while reciting verses that praise Ravana’s strength and devotion to his mother. They expressed sorrow over his ‘death’ as portrayed in the epic narrative, treating it as a symbolic loss rather than a historical event.
While Ravana is commonly depicted as the antagonist in the Ramayana, a growing number of regional followers view him as a complex character embodying valor and loyalty. The Madhya Pradesh devotees highlighted this perspective, emphasizing that reverence for Ravana coexists with mainstream celebrations of Lord Rama.
Local cultural observers noted that such gatherings reflect the pluralistic fabric of Indian traditions, where multiple interpretations of mythological figures can emerge alongside mainstream religious practices.