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Jodhpur Community Honors Ravan, Defying Dussehra Tradition
3 Oct, 2025
Summary
- Jodhpur's Dave Godha community reveres Ravan as a Vedic scholar and master musician
- They gather annually to honor Ravan after his effigy is burned during Dussehra
- Ravan's connection to Jodhpur dates back to his marriage to Mandodari, daughter of Mayasur
As the rest of India celebrates Dussehra with the burning of Ravan effigies, a unique tradition unfolds in Jodhpur. In a small temple on the Mehrangarh Fort road, the local Dave Godha community, a gotra of Shrimali Brahmins, gathers annually to honor and mourn the mythological demon king Ravan.
According to the community, Ravan was not just the abductor of Sita, but a Vedic scholar, master musician, and formidable warrior. They believe that by honoring him, they are preserving their heritage. The community's reverence for Ravan dates back to his marriage to Mandodari, the daughter of Mayasur, the king of Mandawar, now known as Mandor, just 11 kilometers from Jodhpur.
For the Dave Godha community, Dussehra is not a celebration of Ravan's defeat, but a solemn remembrance of a king they believe has been unfairly vilified in popular narratives. The community's annual ritual involves a purifying bath, changing of the sacred thread, and special prayers and offerings for Ravan's soul. As Kamlesh Dave, the head priest of the Ravana temple, explains, "We believe that by honouring him, we honour our heritage."
