Why do we burn the Effigies of the Lanka Trio?

Every Dushehra we find hordes of people thronging on to the Dushehra fairs to burn the effigies of the Lanka Trio: Ravan, Meghdoot and Kumbhkaran. Many a times I stop to ponder why do we burn them?
The Lanka Trio: Ravan Meghdoot and Kumbhkaran were the leaders of Lanka at the times of Lord Ram. Lanka at that time was known as the City of Gold. A City of Gold would mean a highly prosperous city economy something almost unheard of during the times of Lord Ram. Then why do we burn the effigies of such people who could bring such prosperity to their nation?
We have learnt through the ages that it was Ravan who had abducted Sita while she was accompanying her husband to the 14 years of exile and thus Ravan was a bad demon. But then do we not also burn the effigy of Meghdoot and Kumbhkaran who just stood by Ravan, their king and near kin. Then why do we burn them as well every Dushehra and feel happy?
Or was it something much greater that these people had of which we are jealous and we try and burn and decimate. For more on the same thoughts you may like to go through my eBook, Jai Shree Ram .

Ramayan the venture of Valmiki and how it Marketed

Valmiki was supposed to be an abandoned child having high parentage. He was brought up in the lower strata of the society; and grew up as a dacoit. It is said that he once encountered a sage (Devrishi Narada) and not finding much made him a hostage. The sage started reasoning with Valmiki, which ultimately inspired him to change his ways. He finally took to the life of an ascetic.
Valmiki, though a learned sage, was not accepted among the Brahmins due to his earlier background. Sita, the wife of King Ram had been abandoned by Ram due to the increased social pressure from his subjects. She reached the ashram of Valmiki and gave birth to twin sons. They were named Luv and Kush and were being brought up in the ashram under the tutelage of Valmiki.

Photographs taken at the World's Largest Open  Art Gallery - The Shekhavati, Rajasthan

Ram had by then become a strong king. King Ram had powerful rulers as friends all across the Indian subcontinent. The systems ushered in by King Ram were much superior to those of his predecessors. Ram-Rajya or "the way Ram rules" had the acceptance of all the classes of the society. Ayodhya was now the strong kingdom and King Ram was planning to perform the Ashwamedh Yajna, which would have made him the ruler of all lands at that time.

Here Valmiki saw an excellent opportunity to create Ramayan, the story of King Ram to be recited during the Ashwamedh Yajna. The medium during those times was primarily vocal. Luv and Kush were the best possible advocates for the venture named Ramayan, the story of King Ram himself.

In Ramayan, Valmiki highlighted the incidents in which the people of the lower strata stood by Ram, in all walks of his life. This not only enhanced the position of the lower class, but also helped Valmiki to catapult to the status of a great Guru and the greatest of the poets of ancient India.

What I believe is a Hindu?

This has been quite a debate at the time when I was returning back from Shimla with my family. The question in the debate was who is a Hindu? As I see it, India is a multi-cultural, secular country. She had been invaded and subsequently been choosen as permanent abode by invaders and travellers from time immemorial. Apart from Hinduism, India is home to Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs to name a few prominent. All these religions can be traced, that is those who follow Islam are Muslims, those believing in Jesus Christ are Christians, those who believe in the followings of Gautam Buddha, are Buddhists and so on but who are the Hindus?

The answer could be said that all those who are not these and are not aethesits are Hindus. Though I believe otherwise. I trace the word Hindu from the people who grew by the Sindhu river civilization and adapted to the way living of the people around it. If we trace our steps backwards, Sikhs were all Hindus, including all the 10 Gurus. Same was the case with Gautam Buddha or Siddhartha, as he was known as before he founded Buddhism. Or should I say he gave words to previously existing philosophy within Hinduism. Then what exactly is Hinduism?

Date: Nov. 03, 2010

I had the opportunity to attend a seminar on Spirituality and Ethics in Management in my College where learned men from different faiths came over from across the country to discuss the importance of Spirituality in the present day world.