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It is a Hindu epic that tells the story of Prince Rama of Ayodhya, one of the avatars of the god Vishnu, and his wife Sita.

Rama was born to King Dasharathra of Ayodhya, but his mother dies and his father remarried while he was still young. One day there was a contest in a nearby kingdom for the hand of the princess Sita. Whoever could string the bow of the god Siva would win, as her father thought that no-one would achieve this feat and he would keep his daughter by his side. Rama won and married Sita.

When he was old enough Rama was declared the heir to the throne but his stepmother wanted her son Bharata to become king so she used a favour the king owed her to persuade him to banish his son to the forest for 12 years. Not wanting to cause his elderly father any trouble, Rama went without protest from the kingdom. He went to live with his wife in the forest.

Ravanna, the demon king of Lanka, wanted Sita for himself so he decided to kidnap her but Rama and Sita by then had lived in the forest for many years and they had a small hut magically protected for Sita's safety while Rama went hunting. Ravanna had one of his friends turn themself into a golden deer and show itself to Sita, who asked her husband to capture it for her. While Rama went to catch the deer Ravanna, disguised as a wandering holy man, visited Sita and she stepped outside her circle of protection to talk to him.

Ravanna captured Sita and took her to Lanka with him, and when Rama found out he was determined to get her back. He set out with his brother-in-law Lakshmana and the monkey god's top general Hannuman to find his wife. Lanka was an island but the army of monkeys formed a bridge to it with their bodies. An epic battle ensued, but eventually Sita was rescued and the demon vanquished. To prove she had been faithful to her husband, Sita walked through fire to prove her purity.

The 12 years was by then up and Rama returned to his kingdom, his path led by the many lamps the people of Ayodhya had left out to guide his way home.

This si the tradition followed at the festival of Divali.

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Lesley Schulist

Lvl 10
4y ago

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