It turns out, the parking lot at Morrisville Park would not be able to accommodate the 1,500-person crowd any better than the parking lot at the temple where the annual religious festival is usually held, said Jerry Allen, the town's director of parks and recreation.

Because of the withdrawal, the town no longer has to consider whether to provide $2,500 to co-host the event. The town had already cut funding from other popular events due to a tight budget.

During the festival, which is hosted in October by the Hindu Society of North Carolina, an effigy is burned as a symbol of the triumph of good versus evil. The burning of the 40-foot wooden structure has certain space requirements, which limits the amount of vehicles that can fit at Morrisville Park and at the temple's site on Aviation Parkway.

The only other place at Morrisville Park where the effigy could be burned would be at the ball fields. The clean up would make it difficult for staff and costly, Allen said.

Festival organizers approached the town a few months ago asking Morrisville to host the event, now in its fourth year, because of the increasing size of its crowds.

This year's Dussehra festival is expected to be at the temple's parking lot.

The society's president, Vikram Oza, said the group is considering using shuttles to the temple to deal with limited parking.

Dussehra is a popular holiday celebrated by Hindus in Northern India. 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.