Dussehra 2025: While Everywhere Else He Burns, Ravan Will Be Worshipped At This Temple Today

Last Updated:October 02, 2025, 13:18 IST

In a rare Dussehra tradition, a temple in Uttar Pradesh opens for just one day a year — to worship Ravan. Curious why? Discover the story behind this unique belief

The idol of Ravan in the temple is regarded as the guardian of strength, and it is lavishly adorned and reverently worshipped on ‘Vijayadashami’. (Local18)

Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh is home to a unique and ancient religious tradition. While effigies of Ravan, often believed to be the symbol of evil, are burned across the country on Dussehra, there is a temple in Kanpur’s Shivala area where Ravan is, in fact, worshipped on this very day.

This temple, believed to be around 158-years-old, is said to be the only Ravan temple in the country that opens its doors solely on Dussehra. For the remaining 364 days of the year, it remains closed.

Once a year, on Vijayadashami (Dussehra), the temple opens early in the morning, and long queues of devotees gather to offer prayers and perform aarti (ritual worship) to Ravan.

After the special evening puja and aarti, the temple is closed once again, not to open until the following year.

Why Is Ravan Worshipped Here?

There is a special belief and historical significance behind the worship of Ravan in this temple. Built in 1868 by Maharaj Guru Prasad Shukla, a devout follower of Lord Shiva, the temple stands as a tribute to Ravan, not as a symbol of evil, but as a figure of immense knowledge, devotion, and power. According to Maharaj Guru Prasad Shukla, Ravan was not merely the antagonist in the Ramayana, but also a great devotee of Lord Shiva, a highly learned scholar, and a powerful ruler.

Devotees who visit the temple believe that worshipping Ravan bestows wisdom and strength. On Dussehra, they light oil lamps and offer gourd flowers, believed to be Ravan’s favourite, at his feet. The idol of Ravan in the temple is regarded as the guardian of strength, and it is lavishly adorned and reverently worshipped on this day.

Temple priest Ram Bajpai explains, “Ravan was considered to be among the most knowledgeable and powerful beings. Here, we worship that wise and devoted form of Ravan. In the evening, we burn an effigy representing his pride and arrogance.”

This tradition of honouring Ravan’s wisdom and devotion, even on the day of his symbolic defeat, sets Kanpur’s religious and cultural heritage apart. It reflects a broader perspective, one that celebrates not only the victory of good over evil, but also respects the virtues of a figure often misunderstood.

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Author: News18