Inside Bisrakh: The Mysterious Village That Worships Ravana, Not Ram

Tucked in the middle of India's IT hub, Greater Noida is a village that time has almost forgotten. Amidst highways, IT parks, and metro lines is Bisrakh—a village whose tale defies centuries of cultural convention. Unlike the rest of India, where Ravana is effigied and burnt on Dussehra, this village laments him. According to the villagers, this is where he was born. Throughout centuries, Bisrakh has retained this taboo pride, keeping alive a heritage few risk-taking on: that of Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, yet a fervent Shiva bhakt, a learned scholar, and an ill-understood ruler.

Bisrakh is found in Gautam Buddh Nagar district, a short drive from Noida Extension (Greater Noida West). Although the area surrounding it has urbanized quickly, Bisrakh itself has managed to preserve a rural touch, with narrow roads, ancient temples, and banyan trees that appear to share whispers of times long past.
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Bisrakh, as the name goes, supposedly comes from Vishravas, Ravana's illustrious father and a great sage. In mythological lore, Rishi Vishravas is said to have undertaken severe penance here, and it was here that Ravana was born, not in Lanka, but right here in this little-known North Indian town. Locals are convinced that the village was originally a Vedic hermitage, and Ravana spent his early life surrounded by scriptures, fire altars, and divine chants before he travelled to Lanka and became powerful.
"Bisrakh" is a variation of "Vishravas," the father of Ravana. This etymological connection reinforces the village's belief in its association with Ravana. It's not a myth—it's identity. Several ancient wells, stone buildings, and lingams in and around Bisrakh are thought to be thousands of years old.
In contrast to much of India, which commemorates Ravana as the antagonist of the Ramayana, Bisrakh observes daily prayers in his behalf. Aarti is performed, lamps are burned, and mantras are recited—not celebrating his death, but commemorating his wisdom and faith in Lord Shiva. Every household has regard for the heritage with ancient deference, relating the story through generations.
There is a continued proposal to build a grand temple of Ravana in Bisrakh. While some villagers feel it's the right time that Ravana was given his due respect, others are afraid of political repercussions and cultural strife. There is a small shrine that has Ravana's symbolic presence, but there is a planned temple in the air—held between heritage and controversy.
Local legends are legion—of curses on those who offend Ravana, of temples where oil never runs out, and chantings that resound without a priest. Whether fact or legend, they are the heart of Bisrakh's story. To the villagers, Ravana is not a demon—he is a misunderstood genius, a defender of dharma in his own right.
Though it has ancient origins, Bisrakh now finds itself amid Greater Noida's urbanization. Skyscrapers, shopping malls, and IT offices are just a few kilometres away. But the village holds on to its identity fiercely, preserving rituals and traditions even as the new world advances. The juxtaposition of tradition and technology here is remarkable: smartphones in temples, priests live-streaming Ravana chants, and teenagers fighting for their village's history on social media.
Bisrakh's tale is not merely a geography lesson—it's one of memory, identity, and faith. In a nation where myths are simplified to the point of caricature, Bisrakh has the temerity to recall the "villain" as a son, sage, and seeker. Whether Ravana was born here or not, the village is a living testament to India's rich, multifaceted mythology, reminding us that the truth is always more complicated than the stories we hear. So the next time you're driving through the skyscrapers of Greater Noida, keep in mind—not far away is a village where gods and demons are relatives, not enemies.

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