Why Is Ravana Worshipped in Some Parts of India Instead of Being Burned on Dussehra?

Dussehra will be celebrated on October 20, 2026, as crowds across India engage in a plethora of traditional customs. Many communities pay homage to Ravana, recognizing him not just as a demon king but as an esteemed intellectual or an elder figure. In contrast to the common practice of effigy burning, certain villages express their respect through somber rituals.