So the Morrisville-based society is now asking the town to co-sponsor the religious event, which includes the burning of a 40-foot-tall effigy of a mythological demon king.

Through a sponsorship deal, organizers want to use the Morrisville Community Park as the festival venue, town money for advertising, town staff for set up and clean up and police and fire support.

Morrisville staff preliminarily estimate it could cost about $2,500 in staff time and advertising to partner for the event, said Parks Director Jerry Allen.

Vikram Oza, the president of the society, said about 1,500 people came to the third annual festival in 2010 and the parking lot wasn't big enough.

"A lot of people who want to come, can't come because there is not enough room," Oza said. "I hear from people who say they come an hour before and wind up leaving because there is no space."

While the temple's parking lot is large, space is limited because the festival is sharing the lot with vehicles and must leave enough clearance for the effigy burning per fire standards, Oza said.

"Our community is growing," he said. "As more and more families come in to the area they hear about it and would like to come and watch."

Dussehra is a popular holiday celebrated in October by Hindus in Northern India, commemorating the triumph of good versus evil.

It is based on the story of Lord Rama - a reincarnation of the deity Vishnu - defeating the demon King Ravana after fighting for several days. The battle started after Ravana stole Lord Rama's wife.

The event includes a re-enactment of the climax of the war with Ravana and ends with the character playing Rama shooting a burning arrow at an effigy of Ravana, which is a hollow wooden structure filled with fireworks. The organizers claim last year's 40-foot effigy was taller than all Dussehra celebrations in North America.

The festival includes a community fair with vendors and food and is co-sponsored by the nonprofit Hindi Vikas Mandal.

The Morrisville Town Council first heard the Hindu Society's request at a meeting in June.

Town Manager John Whitson raised a question about sponsoring a religious event and the council shared concerns about funding and fairness in light of other budget cuts.

"I'd like to see the list of those events we eliminated or did not fund," said Councilwoman Liz Johnson. "I'd like to revisit what's in and what's out of the budget."

Mayor Jackie Holcombe said she was concerned about the issue of fairness.

"Every year we are approached by a nonprofit organization asking for our help advertising their health fair and every year we give them the same answer and that's 'no.' That's our policy," Holcombe said.

Town staff is still researching the costs and legal restrictions of sponsoring a religious event. It could come before the council Tuesday.