demon or god? A worker gives a final touch to an effigy of the  10-headed Ravana yesterday, in his workshop at Girgaum, Chowpatty. Pic/shadab khan

While most Hindus culminate their Dussehra celebrations by burning the effigy of Ravana to symbolise the victory of good over evil, this 10-headed demon king is worshipped in two Madhya Pradesh districts.

A small temple built to worship Ravana in Vidisha district's Ravangram village will echo with the reverberations of 'Ravana Baba Namah', a prayer to Ravana.

Beliefs

The temple has an ancient idol which shows Ravana in a reclining position. The villagers believe something untoward will occur if anyone tries to put the 10-ft idol in a standing position.

The demon king has been worshipped as a symbol of prosperity for over 600 years by Kanyakubja Brahmins, a Brahmin sub-sect to which Ravana was believed to have belonged.

Scholar

Ravana is regarded as a scholar and people worshipping him believe that burning his effigy is not justified.
People of Mandsaur town believe that Ravana's wife Mandodari belonged to the town and thus regard him as a son-in-law.

The idol is worshipped every year and women in the area remain veiled on Dussehra, as they regard him as their son-in-law.

Though Ravana is widely seen as the demon king of Lanka, he was also endowed with several positive qualities.