Jaipur : The festival of Ravana Dahan is celebrated on the day of Vijayadashami in the month of September or October across the country. But there is also a place where after Holi and Gangaur, the festival of Ravana Dahan is celebrated in the month of May. It sounds very strange, but such an event takes place every year in Nandri village of Sambhar subdivision of Jaipur rural district. The tradition of burning Ravana in this unique village is also very unique. In this village the festival is celebrated not by burning Ravana but by shooting him on the head.
Preparations start with the beating of drums in the village
Preparations for the unique Dussehra fair and Narasimha Leela of Nandri village start several days in advance. In order to organize the fair, worship is done for several days in the temple of Sitaramji in the village, after which drums start playing along with the main worship on Akshaya Tritiya. From this day the artists participating in the mask dance start rehearsing.
Ravana is killed by shooting
Nrisimha Leela is organized every year in Nandri on the tenth day of Shukla Paksha of Vaishakh month. This time this unique Dussehra fair will be organized on 18th May. On the Dussehra fair, the effigy of Ravana is burnt along with Narasimha Leela and fireworks in the evening. Before burning, a pot filled with colored water will be placed on the head and navel of Ravana’s effigy, which is broken by shooting it as per tradition. The fair is considered to end after Ravana is shot on the head and stomach.
Village people become the army of Ram and Ravana.
In this unique Dussehra fair, the village people become the army of Ram and Ravana. During this time, Thakurji’s palanquin reaches Dussehra ground from Sitaramji’s temple. Angad, Sugriva, Nal, Neer etc. of Shri Ram’s army walk along with the palanquin wearing masks. After the war between the armies of Ram and Ravana on the Dussehra grounds, Lord Shri Ram kills Ravana. The village fair committee bears the entire expenses of Dussehra fair and Narasimha Leela.
This tradition has been going on for 167 years
Temple priest Nandkishore Sharma told Local18 that in 1857, Nand Singh Shekhawat had built the temple of Sitaramji in Nandri. The idol was consecrated in the temple on Dashami of Vaishakh month. Narasimha Leela was organized on this occasion. Then on this day Narasimha Leela and Ravana Dahan started happening here. After Ravana Dahan, to celebrate the victory, Narasimha Leela is organized throughout the night in front of the temple in the village.
