Raja Ravan Puja At Sulugupalli
Adivasi communities performed Raja Ravan Puja during Dasara at Sulugupalli gram panchayat in Bejjur mandal of Telangana’s Komuram Bheem Asifabad district. The observance highlighted ancestral beliefs and customs preserved by the participating tribal communities.
Sulugupalli sarpanch and Thudum Debba state secretary Soyam Chainnaiah said members of the community regard Ravan Madavi, the king of Lanka, as their ancestor. He explained that worship of Raja Ravan also continues among Adivasi groups in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. According to Chainnaiah, Adivasis in Kamalapur village near the Maharashtra border also conduct large-scale prayers dedicated to King Ravan, reflecting the diversity of traditions within tribal society.
Adivasi Leaders Seek Cultural Respect
Chainnaiah said Ravan Dahan, the burning of Ravan effigies, hurts the sentiments of tribal communities that worship him. He urged different sections of society to respect one another’s beliefs and recognise that the same festival can carry different cultural meanings. Adivasi leaders appealed to the Telangana and Union governments to protect their cultural practices and respect their understanding of ancestral history. Their appeal focused on ensuring dignity for traditions passed down through generations. The Sulugupalli observance offered a glimpse of how participating communities connect Dasara with ancestral worship and cultural identity.
Traditional Flag Hoisted At Utnoor
In a separate celebration at Gond Rajula Kota in Utnoor, tribal community members and relatives of the late King Atram Devshah hoisted a white flag bearing Surya Chandra, or sun and moon, symbols. Traditional drum beats accompanied the ceremony as participants paid homage to their ancestors and performed puja at their tombs. A procession travelled from Lakakram to Gond Rajula Kota on Tuesday morning.
Khanapur MLA Vedma Bojju, Atram Devshah’s son Atram Gangadhar, family members and other Adivasis participated. The procession, flag ceremony and ancestral tributes brought community members together to honour their heritage during Dasara.
