Why Diwali is celebrated
The story behind the festival of lights.
Diwali marks the night Prince Ram came home to Ayodhya, after fourteen years in exile and a war against the demon king Ravana. This is that story, the Ramayana, in seven chapters.
The RamayanaI · ExileII · The golden deerIII · AbductionIV · The leapV · The herbVI · VictoryVII · Return
Ram leaves for the forest.
To keep his father’s word, the prince of Ayodhya gives up the throne. Sita, his wife, and Lakshman, his brother, go with him for fourteen years.
A golden deer lures Ram away.
Sita longs for it, so Ram gives chase. It is a demon in disguise, sent to draw him away from her.
Ravana carries Sita away.
The ten-headed king of Lanka comes to her door as a holy man, then seizes her and takes her to his island.
Hanuman crosses the ocean.
Ram finds a devoted ally in Hanuman. With one leap he crosses the sea to Lanka, and finds Sita.
Hanuman brings the mountain.
In the war, Lakshman falls. Hanuman flies to the Himalayas for a healing herb and, not knowing which one, carries back the whole mountain.
Good over evil.
Ram’s arrow strikes Ravana down and Sita is free. India remembers this day as Dussehra.
A path of diyas lights Ram home.
On the darkest night of the year, Ayodhya lights rows of clay lamps to guide him home. That night is Diwali.
The Ramayana