The real message of Dussehra is not the burning of effigies but the destruction of evils hidden within the mind and society
Burning effigies of Ravana on Dussehra is not just a tradition, but a symbol of the victory of good over evil. But today, effigies have become mere entertainment, while ego, violence, lust, and other evils are constantly on the rise in society. The real Ravana exists within us and in society. This is the time to identify the Ravana in our minds, renounce them, and resolve to eradicate crime, deceit, and other unrighteousness from society. Only then can Dussehra truly become Vijayadashami.
Every year, on the evening of Dussehra, when giant effigies of Ravana are set ablaze, the excitement of celebration is evident in the eyes of onlookers. The thunder of firecrackers, the sparkle of fireworks, and the roar of the crowds transform this festival into a colorful celebration. But the question is: does the message of this entire event—the triumph of good over evil—reach our lives and society?
Today, Dussehra has become a mere entertainment trend. People burn effigies, take photos and videos, and share them on social media. But rarely do they take the time to consider that the burning of Ravana was not merely a ritual, but rather an opportunity for introspection and social reform.
Ravana was not just a character in the Ramayana, but a symbol of the evils that lead humanity to downfall—arrogance, lust, deceit, anger, and unrighteousness. Even Ravana, a great sage, devotee of Shiva, and a valiant warrior, met his doom due to one mistake—lust and arrogance. Dussehra reminds us that no matter how powerful evil may be, its destruction is certain.
But today, Dussehra has transformed. The burning of Ravana has become a commercial and ostentatious celebration. Each year, the effigies are made larger and larger, and lakhs of rupees are spent on firecrackers. Reports indicate that the number of Ravana effigies has increased manifold in recent years, but the graph of crime and social evil has only increased rather than decreased.
In today’s times, Ravana isn’t confined to effigies. He exists among us, around us, and within us. Crime, rape, murder, dowry violence, bribery, corruption, and drug addiction are on the rise in society. The decline of relationships is also a matter of concern—reports of the murder of parents, siblings, and even children emerge daily. Today’s people are more educated and modern, but evil is also proliferating at an equally rapid pace.
The irony is that the Ravana we burn every year was a loner. He was a scholar, a wise man, and devoted to his family and kingdom. One mistake led to his destruction. But today’s Ravana—the criminal and symbol of evil—is far more cruel, cunning, and shameless.
The festival of Dussehra reminds us that no matter how powerful evil may be, it must be eradicated. But simply burning effigies won’t eliminate evil. We must understand that today’s Ravana is not only external, but also internal. Every human being possesses demons like ego, anger, lust, jealousy, and greed. Until these are burned, peace and justice in society are impossible.
Along with burning the effigy, we should resolve to eliminate at least one evil from our lives. The message of Dussehra will only be meaningful when society collectively stands up against evils like corruption, violence, drug addiction, dowry, and exploitation of women.
The biggest crisis of today’s times is that society is becoming increasingly desensitized to evil. News of rape, murder, and corruption appear daily in newspapers, but we dismiss them as normal. After burning the effigy, we return home peacefully, as if evil has been eradicated. The reality is that today’s Ravanas are omnipresent. They live in palaces and huts. They are both educated and uneducated. They permeate politics, business, education, and every sphere of society.
Ram is not merely a historical or religious figure, but a symbol of ideals and values. Ram means adherence to dharma. Ram means the struggle for truth and justice. Ram means dignity and devotion to duty. But today’s society, instead of embracing Ram’s qualities, is merely using his name for political and religious purposes. The result is that while Ravana burns, the Ravana of the mind and the Ravana of society rise even more powerfully.
Dussehra allows us to pause and reflect—are we able to recognize the Ravana within us? Have we been able to reduce even a single evil from our lives? Are we taking concrete steps to improve society? If the answer to these questions is “no,” then we must accept that Ravana Dahan has become merely a ritual.
The most important thing is that we not only perform the ritual of burning effigies, but also recognize the Ravana within us and in society and show the courage to destroy them. Only then will Dussehra truly become Vijayadashami. Whenever we defeat our inner ego, lust, and greed, the Ram within us will come alive. And only then can we say that Ravana is truly dead.
