People worship Ravana at 'Dashanan' temple on Dussehra

In a departure from convention, devotees are making a beeline for the 125-year-old 'Dashanan' temple in Shivala area here to worship the demon king of Ravana on Dussehra.
"A day when most of the people burn effigies of Ravana, we worship the demon king. Dashanan temple was constructed in around 1890 by Maharaj Guru Prasad Shukl. It opens its doors for devotees once in a year on Dussehra," organiser of the temple functions, K K Tiwari said.
Tiwari said the motive behind the construction of temple was that Ravan was a learned scholar and the biggest devotee of Lord Shiva.

On the occasion of Dussehra, he said the idol of 'Dashanan' (Ravan- or the one with ten heads) was decorated following 'aarti' by the devotees.
He said people light earthen lamps and perform religious rituals to celebrate the festival at the temple.
Around 15,000 devotees are expected to throng the temple today, Tiwari said.
"After Ravana goes up in flames at Ramlila ground here, the doors of the temple are closed for a year," he added.