CUTTACK: The house of Kalandi Moharana at Thoria Sahi in the City becomes the cynosure during Dussehra for a different reason. As the City worships Goddess Durga or consigns Ravan to flames on Dussehra, Kalandi’s house comes alive with religious activity of a similar kind. But the symbol of divinity and victory is none other than the demon king. For the last 80 years, the Moharana household has been conducting the puja of Ravan after installing him as the deity at a special pandal. Driven by faith that Ravan is not the evil as he is projected and his virtues and devotion have to be brought to the fore, Moharana family has been conducting his puja coinciding with Dussehra every year. According to Kalandi, the puja dates back to 1931 when his father Keshab first started it. And the tradition has continued since. The head of King Ravan has been sculpted in iron and the body in wood. Every year on the Mahastami day, the ‘deity’ is installed on a pandal near the house and worshipped as per the Hindu rituals. Special ‘slokas’ are recited by the priest and ‘prasad’ is served not only among the family members and neighbours in the locality but also among the visitors. Kalandi, an electrician by vocation, said Ravan might be vilified in mythology but he is regarded as one of the most ardent devotees of Lord Shiva. He was one of the greatest scholars in the three worlds with thorough knowledge on Upanishads, Vedas and religious scriptures. He was also an able king who took great care of his subjects. “After my father passed away, I have continued the puja. My three sons have also showed interest in carrying it forward for the coming generation. For all these years, we have not faced any opposition for conducting the puja. On the contrary, devotees and visitors, who go around pandal-hopping for Durga Puja, also pay reverence to Ravan. They also partake of the prasad,” said Kalandi.
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