Where sand effigies of demon king Ravana is crushed, not burnt
KOTA: Continuing the age-old tradition of ‘Ravana Vadh’ in Kota, the wrestler’s Jethi Community of Kota today celebrated Dussehra in their unique way by crushing sand effigies of the demon king at the ‘Akhara’ in Limbaja Temple at different places in Kota.
Contrary to the trend of burning the effigies of King Ravana and his family members that is generally practiced throughout the country, the Jethi community today celebrated Dussehra by congregating at the Community temple of Goddess Limbaja Mata in Nanta and Kishorepura areas of Kota where the male members of the community crushed Ravana effigies made of sand. Talking about the tradition, Nimesh Jethi, a young member of the community, said that the sand effigy of Ravana is prepared two to three days prior to the start of Navratra by community members in an Akhara situated inside the temple premises with the sand from the Akhara.
“The face, nose and limbs of the demon king are carved out of the sand effigy and later, barley is sown on the effigy when Navratra starts,” he said. The barley seedlings sprouting out from the effigy gives an impression of hair and moustache,
The face, nose and limbs of the demon king are carved out of the sand effigy and later, barley is sown on the effigy. The seedling sprouts giving an impression of hair and moustache.
NIMESH JETHI,
Jethi community member
said Nimesh Jethi.
On the morning of Dushera, following the traditional rituals performed in the temple, the barley straw sown on the Ravana effigy are removed and are distributed among community members as a mark of the celebration of the victory of good over evil. Later, the community members perform the ritual of crushing the effigy and organise a ceremonial wrestling fight over the sand from the effigy.
Ishwarlal Jethi said that the Jethi community had migrated to Kota several centuries ago to participate in wrestling. Over 300 families of the community reside in Nanta and Kishorepura areas in Kota.
Apart from effigy crushing tradition, the community also plays their unique version of Garba from the fifth day of Navratra at the community temple in which pots, with lit lamps inside them, are thrown into the air by members.