These dacoits in Jhansi will rob you of your worry | Lucknow Information
LUCKNOW: Driving via the freeway of Bundelkhand, if you’re waylaid by a gang of gun-wielding masked males in black outfit, do not panic or push the accelerator pedal. The lads are usually not there to hurt you, however to hunt ‘chanda’ (donation) as a part of an age-old custom began by bandits of the area and symbolise the slaying of 1’s inside demon.
As a part of ‘Ravan Vadh Mela’ (honest), residents of Erach city in Jhansi district disguise themselves as as demon, dacoit, aghori or tantrik and collect to hunt approbation of Goddess Durga to unleash the satan inside – solely to be sacrificed with the slaying of Ravana by Lord Ram.
This 12 months, following the end result of 10-day Ram Lila, forward of Diwali and Dhanteras, on November 7, Ravana’s effigy was set on hearth to mark the tip of Ravan Vadh Mela, however to proceed to unfold the message of excellent over evil, residents of Erach like Babu Lal, Mohammad Azad and others proceed to dress as dacoits, carrying toy weapons, and as an alternative of extorting cash from passersby on freeway and roads, plead for donation. “It’s a really outdated custom. Earlier, Baba Mustaqim (mentor of bandit queen Phoolan Devi) used to hunt donation throughout Ravan Vadh Mela, now we villagers donned as dacoity and armed with airguns, search donations. Nobody is harassed or pressured to pay.
The target is to point out that on the finish evil has to bow down in entrance of excellent,” mentioned Babu Lal. Sharing the folklore, Dharmendra Bajpai, shut support of Erach’s Nagar panchayat chairperson Jaychand Rajput, mentioned, “Erach and neighbouring areas in Bundelkhand had been house for dacoits a few years again, nevertheless it’s not anymore. All these satan characters who comply with this ‘dacoity’ custom at Ravan Vadh Mela are devotees of Maa Kaali. She was the one who killed Mahiravan, the brother of Ravana. In order a symbolic act, following the Ravan Vadh, the evil characters additionally flip into good human beings and unfold messages of affection and brotherhood.” Brajesh Kumar Dubey who acts as Lord Ram throughout Erach’s Ram Lila, mentioned, “We’re happy with our custom. For many years, my father Devendra Kumar Dubey used to behave as Lord Ram. After his demise, I changed him. The dacoits had been a part of our tradition, so through the years they turned a part of Ravan Vadh Mela.” Dubey runs beauty and saloon spa in Phoenix United Mall of Lucknow and just lately suffered Rs 1.35 lakh loss whereas he was in Erach to behave as Lord Ram.
