'Ram and Ravan share same values...': Priest as Lord Ram, Sita idols installed in Ravan's village

Mahant Ramdas, the chief priest of temple located in Bisrakh, said that both Ram and Ravan give the same message to the society

As the country witnessed the grand consecration ceremony of Ayodhya's Ram Temple on January 22, an unprecedented thing happened in Greater Noida's Bisrakh village, which is believed to be the birthplace of Ravan, the antagonist to the hero of Lord Ram in the epic Ramayana.

The village, which is known for worshipping the demon king, on Monday welcomed the idols of Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshman inside an ancient Shiva temple.

It is to be noted that the village does not celebrate "Ravan Dahan" (burning of the effigy of Ravan) on Vijayadashami as he is worshipped there. While most parts of country celebrates the day with much excitement to mark the win of good over evil, residents of Bisrakh village choose to give it a miss.

Mahant Ramdas, the chief priest of temple located in Bisrakh, said that both Ram and Ravan give the same message to the society which is that of wisdom, valour, perseverance and respect for all.

“Ravan Maharaj came in my dreams and he said that we should make way for statues of Bhagwan Ram, Sita ji and Lakshman ji,” he told The Indian Express.

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According to the report, the sanctorum does not have any statue of Ravan even as some of his significant life events are showcased on the main gate of the temple complex. However, that is set to change as this Vijayadashami, the temple plans to install an idol of Ravan inside the temple.

Ramdas told the publication that both Ram and Ravan share the same values, but different ideologies. According to the priest, the idols of Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshman have been brought from Rajasthan.

Meanwhile, on January 22, the whole nation celebrated the consecration ceremony of the newly-built Ram temple in Ayodhya. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, as well as a string of high-profile celebrities participated in the event.

"What we saw in Ayodhya yesterday, 22nd January, will be etched in our memories for years to come," PM Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter) as he shared a video from the consecration ceremony.

Ramdas, in an interaction with news agency PTI said, "The way the Ram Temple has been beautifully made in Ayodhya, I hope one day this Ravan temple would also get uplifted. The names of Rama and Ravan would continue together, not alone."