Ravana temple in Kanpur draws devotees

Dussehra might be a celebration of Lord Rama's victory over the 'evil' Ravana, but at a temple in this city hundreds of devotees throng every year on this day to worship the demon king.

Built in 1890, the Dashanan temple's doors are opened only on the day of Dussehra at nine in the morning for the devotees.

Ravana is decorated with ornaments and then an 'aarti' is offered by devotees, who revere him as the symbol of power.

Once the effigy of Ravana is consigned to the flames in the evening, the doors of temple are closed -- only to be opened on next Dussehra.

"The temple was built by maharaj Guruprasad Shukl about 120 years back and is the only one of its kind in the whole country," programme coordinator of the temple, KK Tiwari said.

According to Tiwari, the reason behind building this temple is that Ravana himself was a great scholar and greatest devotee of Lord Shiva.

Hence, the temple is built adjacent to the Lord Shiva's temple at the Shivala area of the city.