Jodhpur, Oct. 3 -- While Dussehra is celebrated throughout India as the triumph of good over evil, a community in Jodhpur observes this day with mourning. For the Shrimali Godha Brahmins of this city, Ravana is revered as an ancestor and son-in-law. Worship is performed on this day at the Ravana Temple on Mehrangarh Fort Road in Jodhpur. Built by the Shrimali Godha Brahmins, this temple houses idols of both Ravana and his wife Mandodari. Pandit Kamlesh Kumar Shrimali, the temple's priest and founder, says, "Ravana was not only a powerful king, but also a wise scholar and a skilled musician. We consider ourselves his descendants, and that is why we celebrate Dussehra as a day of mourning." This community holds Ravana in high regard, viewing him not only as the demon king of the Ramayana, but also as a great scholar, warrior, and astrologer. They believe his death was a great loss to humanity. On Dussehra, they refrain from celebrations and mourn the loss of their revered figure. According to Shrimali, Mandodari is believed to have been from the Mandore region of Jodhpur, and the name Mandore is derived from her. The mythological connection between Ravana and this region reinforces the community's belief that Ravana was their son-in-law. Pandit Shrimali adds, "Mandodri married Ravana here, in a place still known as 'Chanwari' on the Mandore hills." On Dussehra, as elsewhere in the country, after the burning of Ravana's effigy, community members perform symbolic purification rituals. Shrimali says, "After the burning of Ravana's effigy, we take a bath. Earlier, this was done in local water bodies, but now it is often done outside our homes."...