page_title: Ravana
section_title: Ravana-Dahan (burning effigy of Ravana)
hierarchical_section_title: Ravana / Influence on culture and art / Ravana-Dahan (burning effigy of Ravana)
caption_attribution_description: Effigy of Ravana with burning sparklers. Dashehra Diwali Mela in Manchester, England, 2006.Fizzle!
context_page_description: Ravana is described as the demon king of Lanka in the ancient Sanskrit epic Ramayana and also in other ancient Hindu texts.
  Ravana is widely considered to be a symbol of evil. While in Sri Lankan mythology, he is considered as a great ruler. Ravana also had many qualities that made him a learned scholar. He was well-versed in the six shastras and the four Vedas.
  In the Ramayana, Ravana abducts Rama's wife Sita and took her to his kingdom of Lanka, where he held her as a prisoner in Ashok Vatika. Furthermore in Ramayana, it is stated that during this time, he expressed desire to marry her. Later, Rama, with support of vanara King Sugriva and his army of vanars, attacked to Lanka, killed King Ravana, and rescued his beloved wife Sita.
  Ravana is considered to be the most revered devotee of Shiva. Images of Ravana are seen associated with Shiva at some places. He also appears in the Buddhist Mahayana text Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra, in Buddhist Ramayanas and Jatakas, as well as in Jain Ramayanas. In some scriptures, he is depicted as one of Vishnu’s cursed doorkeepers.
context_section_description: Effigies of Ravana are burned on Vijayadashami in many places throughout India. It is said that this symbolises Rama's triumph over evil (i.e., Ravana).
caption: An effigy of Ravana with burning sparklers on Dusshera. Dashehra Diwali Mela in Manchester, England, 2006.
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