Does Ravan Really Die?

I have a lot of good memories of Dussehra from my childhood. We used to go to my native place every year just to attend the local trade fair organised during this festival. Small shops lined both sides of the road outside our house. We, children, were happiest as we bought toys and enjoyed mouthwatering treats. In the evening, we would eagerly wait for the arrival of Lord Rama, along with Maa Sita, Lord Lakshman, and Lord Hanuman. Little children, dressed up as divine figures, arriving in a chariot. What a graceful view! Our parents would offer veneration to them. The feeling was so pure and innocent that it seemed as if we had met the real Gods. We felt blessed. After that, we would go to the big ground to watch Ravan burn in the fire of his arrogance.

A gigantic effigy of Ravan was set in flames, so high that it felt as if they would soon touch the sky above. The fire exuded positivity. We would witness the victory of good over evil. The ground was filled with the echoes of “Jai Shree Ram”(Hail Lord Ram). Wow! What splendour! Back then, we would not understand the true meaning of those feelings, but now, when I reminisce over those memories, I get goosebumps.

After ages, we went to watch the burning of Ravan last year. It was a small event comprised of dance, games, food stalls and togetherness. I juxtaposed this event with what I had experienced in my childhood. A drastic change. But one thing was common—rejoice of victory of good over evil. The fall of Ravan. I even recorded it. I think I did a pretty good job. I uploaded that video on my WhatsApp status. It’s unusual of me but I wanted to see people’s reactions. One of my colleagues said, “Agle saal fir zinda ho jayega ye, Ma’am”(He’ll reborn next year, Ma’am’). To which I replied, “He’s never dead.” It was pun intended. I wanted to explain it to him but I resisted.

Think about it. Did Ravan really die when he was set ablaze? Who’s Ravan? The Evil? The Bad? The Arrogant? The Cruel? The Dark? Well, if yes, there’s a Ravan in all of us. Every one of us behaves like Ravan at least once in a lifetime. So, now tell me. Did Ravan actually die? The answer is No. He will only die when each one of us eradicates our vices. The vices (Eg., Greed) which trigger us to cross the threshold (Laxman Rekha) and get caught in the illusions (Golden Deer) just like Maa Sita. So, no matter if we burn Ravan every year, it will never purify our souls unless we do the inner cleansing.