http://www.ptinews.com/news/303939_Dalits-celebrate--Ravana-Mela--to-oppose--Dussehra-
Dalits celebrate 'Ravana Mela' to oppose 'Dussehra' STAFF WRITER 15:21 HRS IST Kanpur, Sept 28 (PTI) Thousands of dalits today took out a procession and held 'Ravana Mela' here to protest against the burning of Ravana's effigies on 'Dussehra'. Ravana, a mythological character described as demon king in the Hindu epic 'Ramayana', is revered by the dalits who worship him as the symbol of bravery and sacrifice. The event has been organised at Pukhraya by the 'Dalit Panther', an NGO opposed to the burning of Ravana's effigy on 'Dussehra' celebrated by the Hindus as the victory of good over evil. "Making deformed effigies of Ravana and setting them on fire on 'Dussehra' every year hurts the feelings of dalits and the practice should be banned in the country," President of Dalit Panther Dhaniram Bauddh said. The dalits in the area have been organising 'Ravana Mela' for the past ten years.
