Baghpat (Uttar Pradesh): On Dussehra, when people across the country celebrate the victory of good over evil by burning the effigies of Ravana, a village in Uttar Pradesh' Baghpat district has never been a witness to 'Ravan Dahan'.
The residents of the Baragaon village believe that Ravana after gaining power (Shakti) in the Himalayas lost it in this village after handing it over to a farmer, hence, the villagers refuse to observe the festival.
Rajpal Tyagi, Manager of Mata Mansha Devi Committee said, "We have been hearing a legend associated with Ravana for generations. It is believed that he meditated for several years in the Himalayas to get Shakti. After years of deep meditation, Ravana attained Shakti and while returning from the mountains, he passed through this village. Ravana had been told that the power would stay with him only if he did not put it on the ground."
Rajpal further said, "In the village, he had to answer nature's call, so he handed over the Shakti to a farmer. But the farmer was unable to bear the weight of the power, so he put it on the ground. Shakti then refused to go further with Ravana. So, he built a temple for the goddess Mansa Devi on the very spot where it stands today."
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Pravesh Tyagi, a villager said, "Devotees from far-off places visit the Mansa Devi temple to offer their prayers. On Vijaya Dashmi where Ram Leela are conducted and effigies of Ravana are set ablaze, our village does not take part in any of such events."
