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Devotees in Kanpur worship Demon King Ravana

     Kanpur/Bhopal: As people across the country celebrate Dussera, there is a temple in Kanpur, where the Demon King Ravana is worshipped. The Kailash Temple in Kanpur opens only a year. "This Kailash Temple, devoted to God Shiva, was built in 1868 by Gulbajaj Sakul. If this temple does not have an idol of Ravana, a devotee of God Shiva, then it is of no use. That is why, he erected a temple devoted to a staunch follower," said K K Tiwari, the temple's manager. In Bhopal, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Volunteers commemorate the day by worshipping weapons. Weapons which give power are in co-relation with Goddess Durga which signifies power. "We have not erected the idol of Goddess Durga, but on this day we worship weapons as Durga signifies power and power is not possible without weapons," said Uttam Israni, a member of the local RSS outfit. Dussehra is also interpreted as 'Dasa-Hara', which means the cutting of the ten heads of Ravana, denoting abdication of ten vices - passion, pride, anger, greed, infatuation, lust, hatred, jealousy, selfishness and crookedness. The celebration manifests the victory of good over evil. Hindus celebrate it for ten days by staging the life and events of King Ram, culminating in the killing of Ravana, his son Meghnath and brother Kumbhkarna on Dussera day. The festival also marks the end of the 'Navratri' and Durga Puja festivals.
-Oct 2, 2006