At a Mathura temple hymns in praise of Ravan

Mathura: As people across the country celebrated Dussehra on Tuesday burning effigies of Ravan, the Shiva temple premises near new bridge on Yamuna here reverberated with hymns for over an hour in praise of the mythical king of Lanka.

Not only members of 'Lankesh Bhakta Mandal' paid their obeisance to Ravan, they also decided they would ask people not to burn effigies of "such a learned devotee of Lord Shiva" year after year.

"The Mandal now not only would try to educate people of Mathura against the evil of burning of effigy of Ravan every year but would also spread the message in the neighbouring districts," said Omveer Saraswat, Advocate and President of Lankesh Bhakta Mandal.

He said the practice of burning of effigy of "such a learned devotee of Lord Shiva", should be given up.

Lauding values practised by Ravan, Saraswat said, he did not touch lord Ram's wife Sita, who was in his custody in Ashok Vatika, even after the death of his brothers and son.

"He performed duty of a priest during construction of Setu Bandh Rameshwarm even though it was used by Ram for attacking Lanka," he said.

"It is not only humiliating but against culture of this country to burn effigy of such a noble figure every year," he said.