Navratri holds special significance in Hinduism. It is believed that Goddess Durga descends from heaven to earth for nine days. During Navratri, nine forms of the Goddess are worshipped. Pandals are erected and the Goddess is enshrined and worshipped. Meanwhile, in a village in Madhya Pradesh, a pandal is decorated not for Goddess Durga, but for Ravana. An idol of Ravana is installed and worshipped for nine days.
In Jamunia village in Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh, Ravana is worshipped instead of Goddess Durga on the holy festival of Navratri. Here, the tribal community decorates Ravana's pandal. The idol is then installed and worshipped for nine days. The tribal community believes that Lord Shiva has always been a deity of the tribal community, and Ravana was a devotee of him. Therefore, every year, a pandal of Ravana is decorated and worshipped here.
According to the tribals, they do not worship Ravana from the Ramayana, but rather worship him as their ancestor. They also believe that Ravana is revered by them as a devotee of Lord Shiva. They explained that they respect all religions. They worship Ravana as their ancestor only after worshipping Goddess Durga in the pandal. They explained that their ancestors have been worshipping Ravana for years, and they are carrying forward this tradition.
Meanwhile, the tribal community does not burn Ravana on the occasion of Dussehra. They oppose it and have repeatedly appealed to the government to stop the burning of Ravana. They say that they install an idol of Ravana, so burning Ravana is not right and should be banned.
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