The Ramayana

My name is Hanuman, and though I have the strength to lift mountains, my greatest power is my loyalty. I live in the deep, green forests of Kishkindha, where the air smells of sweet mangoes and damp earth. One day, while leaping through the canopy of ancient trees, I met two royal brothers whose sadness was as deep as the forest shadows. They were Prince Rama of Ayodhya and his devoted brother, Lakshmana, living in exile far from their shining kingdom. With them was Rama’s wife, the kind and beautiful Princess Sita, whose smile could make the flowers bloom brighter. They were good and noble, but I could sense a dark storm gathering on the horizon, a test of courage and love unlike any the world had ever seen. This is the story of that great adventure, the epic known as The Ramayana.

The storm broke when the ten-headed demon king, Ravana, ruler of the island kingdom of Lanka, used a cruel trick to steal Sita away. He sent a magical golden deer to lure Rama and Lakshmana away, then disguised himself as a holy man to capture the princess and fly away on his sky-chariot. Rama’s heart was broken. He searched everywhere, his cries echoing through the valleys. It was then that he met me and my king, Sugriva. Seeing Rama’s goodness, I pledged my life to his service. We gathered a great army of vanaras—strong and clever monkey-people—to help in the search. I was chosen for the most difficult task: to cross the great ocean to Lanka. I grew as large as a mountain, took a mighty leap, and soared through the air like a comet, the wind roaring in my ears as I flew towards the island where the demon king hid his prize.

In Lanka, I found Sita in a garden, sad but full of hope. I gave her Rama’s ring as a sign that help was coming. Before I left, I caused a lot of trouble for Ravana, and when his guards set my tail on fire, I used it as a torch to set parts of his city ablaze before leaping back to the mainland. With news of Sita, our vanara army built a bridge of floating stones across the sea, a miracle of teamwork and devotion. Then came the great battle. It was a fight of good against evil, light against darkness. Rama, with his divine bow, fought with courage and honor. After many days of fierce fighting, Rama finally defeated the powerful Ravana. The world seemed to hold its breath as the demon king fell, and the sky cleared.

With Sita rescued, Rama returned to his kingdom of Ayodhya. The people had waited for him for fourteen long years. To celebrate their beloved prince’s return, they lit thousands of clay lamps, called diyas, lining the streets and homes, creating a river of light to guide him home. This joyous celebration of light triumphing over darkness is remembered every year during the festival of Diwali. The Ramayana is more than an adventure; it’s a story about dharma—doing the right thing—and the power of loyalty, love, and courage. For thousands of years, it has been told in poems, plays, dances, and paintings, inspiring people to be brave and good. The story reminds us that even in the darkest of times, a little light of hope, and the help of good friends, can lead the way home.