Rawanbadh ritual marked in Mithila region today

Mahottari, Oct 2: The Rawanbadh celebration has been marked in Mithila region of the Madhes today on the occasion of the Bijaya Dashami festival. This celebration is observed at Matihani of Mahottari.     

This ritual commemorates the killing of the demon king Rawan by lord Ram. The Rawanbadh ritual holds significance for the devotees in Mithila as Lord Ram married to Sita, the daughter of king Janak of ancient Mithila.     

Legend has it that the Hindu god Ram had slain Rawana on the day of the Bijaya Dashami during the Treta Yuga and the Rawanbadh ritual is held in commemoration of this event.     

During the Rawanbadh enactment, a huge 10-headed statue of the demon king Rawana is symbolically killed by Shreeram shooting arrows at him. For this purpose, a huge effigy of Rawana is installed on the precincts of the Durga Temple and it is symbolically killed by lord Ram shooting arrows.     

The Rawanbadh ceremony is held in the evening. This ritual has been celebrated in Matihani from ancient time.     

The 'slain' effigy of Rawana is disposed of immersing in river the next day, amidst a procession accompanied by the playing of musical instruments. (RSS)