Kanpur: Ravan worshipped at ‘deeksha’ ceremony

KANPUR: Around 200 people attended the ‘deeksha’ ceremony and performed ‘puja’ of mythological demon king Ravan in an event called ‘Baudh Dhamm’ on the occasion of Dussehra in Pukhrayan village in Bhognipur area of Kanpur Dehat district on Sunday.
Senior office-bearers of the social organisation, Bhartiya Dalit Panther, who organised the event, said the ceremony along with puja of Ravan was performed as a part of an annual event they hold at Krishi Mandi Samiti ground in Pukhrayan in Bhognipur.
Senior member of Bhartiya Dalit Panther, Dhani Rao Baudh Panther, said, “Bhadant Baudh Mani, a senior Buddhist monk from Auraiya, prescribed 22 vows to a gathering of 200 people, who attended the ceremony in the presence of several retired administrative officials including ex-bureaucrat Dr Chandrapal amid Covid-19 guidelines.”
“We have been conducting ‘deeksha’ ceremony in the spirit of Ravan, Lord Gautam Buddha, Samrat Ashoka and Baba Saheb Ambedkar, who fought against caste discrimination in society, since the past 27 years,” said Shriom Katheria, district president (Kanpur Dehat) of Bhartiya Dalit Panther.
He claimed that like previous years, nearly 200 people, mostly from Dalit and backward classes, assembled at the Krishi Mandi Samiti ground and took 22 oaths of Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar by raising their hands in the presence of the Buddhist monk. Before taking oath, the crowd also performed ‘puja’ of Ravan.
Katheria added that as Ravan was a Buddhist scholar, he should be worshipped.
“We hold the ceremony so that the future generations would remember the sacrifices of Ravan, besides Lord Gautam Buddha, Samrat Ashoka and Baba Saheb Ambedkar. We will continue with the tradition,” he said.
Contacted, SDM Bhognipur Deepali Kaushik claimed that in view of the Covid pandemic, permission for gathering of 200 people at Krishi Mandi Samiti ground was granted for holding a seminar. “I am not aware of any ‘deeksha’ ceremony or ‘puja’ held at the venue,” she added.
Similarly, hordes of people gathered outside the Ravana temple in Shivala area of the city, like previous years, to offer prayers and perform ‘puja’ of Ravan on Sunday. Later in the evening, when the effigies of Ravan were burnt at various places of the city, the doors of the temple were closed till the next Dussehra.
On being asked about the religious relevance of the Dashanan temple and Ravan ‘puja’, curator of the temple KK Tewari claimed: “Ravan was extremely courageous, a scholar and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. Given the fact that he did ‘Sita haran’ cannot be a reason for not worshipping him. He was well-versed with ‘ancient Hindu epics (Vedas) and follower of truth, thus he is worshipped every year for his good qualities.”