In Ropa village, Dussehra is marked by a unique tradition of symbolically slaying Ravan instead of burning his effigy. A permanent 10-foot statue of Ravan has been repainted annually for about a century. Villagers gather to enact scenes from the Ramayana, culminating in the symbolic killing of Ravan. This practice reflects local respect for Ravan as a scholar rather than merely a villain.
