Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh is home to a unique and ancient religious tradition. While effigies of Ravan, often believed to be the symbol of evil, are burned across the country on Dussehra, there is a temple in Kanpur’s Shivala area where Ravan is, in fact, worshipped on this very day.

This temple, believed to be around 158-years-old, is said to be the only Ravan temple in the country that opens its doors solely on Dussehra. For the remaining 364 days of the year, it remains closed.

Once a year, on Vijayadashami (Dussehra), the temple opens early in the morning, and long queues of devotees gather to offer prayers and perform aarti (ritual worship) to Ravan.

After the special evening puja and aarti , the temple is closed once again, not to open until the following year.

There is a spe

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