The Ramayana

Hello! My name is Hanuman, and I am a vanara, a strong and quick monkey-like being who can change my size in the blink of an eye. Long ago, in a land of fragrant forests and sparkling rivers, I met a kind and brave prince named Rama. He was the best archer you could ever imagine, but his heart was heavy with sadness because his beautiful wife, Princess Sita, had been stolen away by a ten-headed demon king. Rama and his brother Lakshmana looked so worried, and I knew I had to help them. I promised Rama that I would find Sita, no matter where the demon had hidden her. My loyalty belonged to him, and I would use all my strength and courage to serve him. This is the story of our great adventure, a tale that has been told for thousands of years, known as The Ramayana.

The demon king, Ravana, had taken Sita across the wide, blue ocean to his island kingdom of Lanka. No one knew how to cross the vast water, which seemed as big as the sky. But I am the son of the Wind God. I took a deep breath, puffed out my chest, and grew bigger and bigger until I was as tall as a mountain. With a mighty roar, I took a great leap. I flew through the clouds like a golden arrow, soaring over the giant waves and watching the whole world shrink below me. It was an exhilarating feeling. When I finally landed on the shores of Lanka, I made myself as small as a cat so I could sneak through the city without being seen by Ravana's guards. I searched everywhere until I found Princess Sita in a beautiful garden, looking very sad but still hopeful. I whispered to her, 'I come from Rama'. I gave her Rama’s ring to show that help was on its way, and she gave me a sparkling jewel from her hair to take back to him. Before leaving, I decided to cause a bit of mischief to warn the demon king. I let the guards catch me, and when they set my tail on fire to punish me, I grew huge again and leaped all over the city, setting part of it ablaze. Then, I leaped back across the ocean to Rama with the good news: we had found her.

Now that we knew where Sita was, we had to get our whole army across the sea. How could so many cross such a huge ocean? My fellow vanaras and I, along with friendly bears, worked together as a team. We carried huge rocks, some as big as houses, and tall trees to the edge of the water. With Rama's name written on each one, we placed them in the sea, and they magically floated. We built a floating bridge of stones all the way to Lanka. Our army marched across, ready for the great battle. Prince Rama, with his magical bow, fought bravely against Ravana and his demon army. It was a long and difficult fight, full of loud clashes and amazing feats of strength. But Rama's goodness and courage were stronger than any demon's power. He defeated the ten-headed Ravana, and Princess Sita was finally free. We all traveled back home to their kingdom of Ayodhya, where the people lit rows of clay lamps, called diyas, to light their way and celebrate their return. This is why, even today, people light lamps during the festival of Diwali—to remember that light and goodness will always win against darkness.

The Ramayana is more than just my adventure; it’s a story about being brave, loyal to your friends, and always choosing to do the right thing, even when it’s hard. For thousands of years, families have shared this tale through poems, songs, plays, and beautiful paintings that show our journey. It teaches us that no matter how big a problem seems, courage and teamwork can solve it. This ancient story still inspires people to be good friends and heroes in their own lives, reminding us all that hope can build a bridge over any ocean.