Indore, Oct 19: Just when India is gearing up to witness annual ritual of Ravana burning next week, devotees of the demon king Ravana in Indore are busy helping construction of a temple of their deity in Pardesipura locality, according to a report published in DNA.
Two temples of Ravana, one in Vidisha and another in Mandsaur, already exist in Madhya Pradesh.
There might be more temples but they are not known, claimed the priest of the under- construction temple of Ravana, Mahesh Gohar.
"We did our best to get the construction done by Dussehra but due to some problems, it could not be completed. But we will offer our prayers on dusshera at this premise all the same," he said.
Ravana's followers believe that their deity fulfills the wishes of the devout. "If you want to get your wishes fulfilled just tie a ring on the legs of Lord Ravana's idol," claimed Gohar.
He has been striving to have a temple of Ravana built since 1965-66 when he had gone to his maternal uncles' place in Mandsaur and learned about worshipping of the erudite demon king's 'virtues'. Since then, he has been worshipping the deity.
"We also protested burning of the effigy of Ravana in our locality. Due to our efforts effigy of Ravanna is not burnt at the Damru Ustad Chauraha of the area since 1969", added Gohar.
Earlier, the Ravana followers used to offer prayers by keeping a picture of the deity's idol enshrined in the Mandsaur temple.
Last year, however, they decided to construct a temple and sought land from the Nazul department.
When the government refused to give land, Gohar said, he offered his own land and now the temple is nearly half complete with his own fund. They have engaged sculptors who will construct the idol at the temple, though this year they have to worship before the picture.
"From next year we will have an idol," Gohar said.
