Home / Lifestyle / Mourning Ravana: Rajasthan's Unique Dussehra Tradition
Mourning Ravana: Rajasthan's Unique Dussehra Tradition
20 Oct
Summary
- A Jodhpur community mourns Ravana, viewing him as a scholar and musician.
- The Dave Godha community claims descent from Ravana, with a local marriage legend.
- They offer prayers and seek peace for Ravana's soul after Dussehra rituals.
In Jodhpur, Rajasthan, a distinct tradition unfolds during Dussehra as the Dave Godha community eschews celebration for mourning. This Brahmin gotra reveres Ravana, viewing him not as an antagonist but as a learned ruler, a Vedas scholar, and a master musician. Their observance begins after the customary effigy burning, involving ritual bathing and prayers at their community temple.
The practice is rooted in a local legend placing Ravana's marriage to Mandodari in Mandore, near Jodhpur. It is believed that some of Ravana's relatives from Lanka stayed behind after the wedding, forming the ancestry of the Dave Godha community.
This ancestral connection shapes their unique observance, transforming Dussehra into a day of remembrance. The community's temple, established in 2008, houses idols of Ravana and Mandodari, symbolizing their reverence for Ravana's scholarly and musical prowess.
The landscape of Mandore further intertwines with this narrative, with sites believed to be where wedding vows were exchanged. For the approximately 100 Dave Godha families in Jodhpur, this tradition honors their forefather, celebrating his wisdom and artistry.
