When devotees of demon King Ravana remembered him in Allahabad

Though Dussehra, an occasion when effigies of demon-King Ravana are burnt, is just two weeks away, many devotees in Allahabad took out a procession on Saturday night honouring the mythical King of Lanka.

Allahabad, Oct 7 : Though Dussehra, an occasion when effigies of demon-King Ravana are burnt, is just two weeks away, many devotees in Allahabad took out a procession on Saturday night honouring the mythical King of Lanka.

Not many may know but apart from being respected as a demon-King, Ravana was also known for his great wisdom and in-depth knowledge of all four Vedas, the oldest sacred texts in Hinduism.

The tradition to take out an annual procession on Ekadashi (the eleventh day of a fortnight belonging to a lunar month) is said to be 500 years old. These days, a local Ramlila Committee takes out the procession.

Organisers said that the event was organised to honour the great qualities of King Ravana.

"Ravana was an intellectual of the ancient times and incomparable in wisdom. By taking out this procession, we pay our respects to him," said Hamendra Nath Goswami, one of the organizers of the procession said.

The procession was taken around the city from the Ashram of sage Bharadwaj and lasted past midnight.

A number of tableaux depicting Ravana's strength and the grandeur of his court formed a part of the procession attended by thousands of people.

Some of the devotees were dressed up as King Ravana, his wife Mandodari, brother Kumbhakaran, and son Meghnath in the procession.

Riding an elephant, the Ravana was seated inside a silver-coated box and taken out across the city.

According to the Hindu epic, Ramayana, Ravana had abducted Sita, the wife of Rama, the Ayodhya's King-in-exile. In retaliation, Rama waged a war against Ravana for her release from the demon King's captivity. Rama finally won the war.

The annual festival Dussehra, which falls this year on October 21, marks Lord Rama's victory.

ANI