New Delhi: For most of us, the festival of Dussehra symbolises as a day when good wins over the evil which in turn is equivalent to the victory Lord Rama over Ravana. In several part of the country you will see people burning effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhkaran and son Meghnada. However, this place in the country follows a rather opposite culture that symbolises the exact opposite of the above-mentioned belief. In Maharashtra's Akola district does not believe the same and worship Ravana not Rama on the occasion of Dussehra.

A lot can be read about Ravana being an ardent believer of Lord Shiva and is still being worshiped in several parts of Sri Lanka but Akola district has an enormous black statue of Ravana, with 10 heads and 20 arms, situation in a small Sangola village, where the Lanka king is being worshiped from the past 200 years.

While rest of the country burns effigies of Ravana on Dussehra, the demon king is worshiped in Sangola village for this intelligence and ascetic qualities, a local priest of the village said while speaking to news agency PTI. Several residents of the village also believe that formidable scholar.

Lakhade said several generations of his family have been worshiping Ravana in the village. "The happiness, peace and contentment in the village is because of the great king Ravan," he said.

Speaking about the reason behind worshiping a demon, a villager said, "We believe that Ravan abducted Sita for political reasons and preserved her sanctity. We believe in Lord Ram, but we also have faith in Ravan, which is why we don't burn his effigies."

"Everyone is afraid of Ravan, but he is worshipped by everyone in our village. On the occasion of Dussehra, people from across the country to the village to see the statue and some even offer prayers," the villager added.

Dusshera, also known as Vijay Dashmi, is celebrated to commemorate the battle between Lord Rama and demon king Ravana. According to the Hindu belief, Ravana kidnapped Lord Rama’s wife Sita and taken her to his kingdom in Sri Lanka. It was then Lord Rama and his younger brother Lakshman along with Lord Hanuman and his army of monkeys travelled to the ten-headed king Ravana’s kingdom to defeat him.