A Psychological Reading of Ravan Dahan
The effigy burning of Ravan Dahan ( दशानन ) —a central event during the Hindu festival of Dussehra —is a powerful cultural ritual that offers a rich canvas for psychological interpretation. Far from being a mere historical re-enactment, the ritual operates as a profound psychological mechanism for collective and individual catharsis, projection, and the reinforcement of moral identity. At its core, Ravan Dahan leverages the psychological concept of projection . The ten-headed effigy of Ravana, the antagonist of the Ramayana , is not simply a historical villain; he is a meticulously constructed archetype representing a specific set of negative human traits: ego, lust, pride, anger, delusion, greed, envy, attachment, selfishness, and injustice . By creating this externalized figure, the community can project their own shadow self—those undesirable impulses and flaws that are often repressed or denied—onto a safe, external target. The public, communal act of watching the effigy burn...