Ravana worshipped on Dussehra in several places

Indore, Oct 1 (UNI) Ten-headed demon King Ravana, who is symbolically burnt in effigy during the Dussehra festival in north India, is worshipped in west Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur town besides several other places.

The demon king -- regarded as a learned person and an ascetic -- is worshipped at Ravana Rundi in Mandsaur district's Khanpur, at Ravana village in Vidisha district, at Bhadkhedi village in Shajapur district, at Khujha village in Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh and several other places.

Indore-resident Mahesh Gauhar, who has been worshipping the ten-headed demon since the past three decades, believes that burning King Ravana -- knower of all Vedas and a devotee of Lord Shiva -- in effigy tantamounted to committing sin.

Legend has it that Ravana's wife Mandodari belonged to Mandsaur.

An ancient idol of the demon king is installed at Ravana Rundi in Khanpur area. The idol is worshipped every year and women in the area remain in 'ghungat (veil)' regarding Ravana as ''son-in-law''.

Recently, the idol was got renovated by Mandsaur municipality at an expense of Rs 2.5 lakh.

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