‘Birthplace’ of Ravan celebrates bhoomi pujan

Greater Noida: Bisrakh, the Greater Noida village that does not celebrate Dussehra because its residents consider it to be the birthplace of Ravan, marked the bhoomi pujan for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya as a “special day”. The mood in the village of less than 10,000 people in the Dadri block was devout with bhajans and kirtans, before a deepotsav lit up the evening.
Soil from Bisrakh, which also has a ‘Ravan temple’, was sent by its residents to Ayodhya for the ceremony, said Acharya Ashokanand, who looks after the Bisrakh temple and also handles the trust. The sentiment, as a resident put it, was that Ram is universal. “Ravan sought salvation from Lord Ram and so the villagers of Bisrakh sent soil from here for the ceremony as a mark of respect to Ram,” said Ashokananda.
Nearly 650km from Ayodhya, Bisrakh has over a century old “Swayambhu shivling”. According to mythology, Ravan’s father Vishrava meditated and prayed to Shiva here after which Ravan was born.
Ashokanand added villagers consider Ravan to be their ancestor, and therefore, mourn his death. “However, this time, we organised a nirvighna mahayajna (no-obstacle ritual) on Wednesday to ensure that no obstacles come in the way of the Ram temple construction. Bhajans and kirtans were organised in the day and in the evening, residents lit diyas and hoisted flags,” he said.
Soon, a temple dedicated to Ram is likely to be constructed in the village. “We are planning to construct a Ram temple here,” Ashokanand said.
Rekha, a villager, said such festivities were unusual in Bisrakh. “There is no Ram temple here and Ramlilas are not organised. But on Wednesday, there were bhajans and kirtans. Candles were lighted and we all prayed together,” she said.