Ramayana: Quick Facts

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Nov. 8, 2026

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The demon king Ravana

Painting of the poet Valmiki seated, holding a manuscript and teaching the Ramayana to Kusa and Lava, who sit attentively with another figure and two deer nearby.

Eighteenth-century Indian painting showing Rama and Sita seated on a decorated bench, with Hanuman kneeling at their feet and Lakshmana standing nearby in a palace garden.

Illustration of Lord Rama breaking Shiva's bow before King Janaka, Sita, and assembled courtiers at a palace temple.

Basohli-style painting of Lord Rama's wedding, with the bride and groom beneath a canopy surrounded by richly dressed guests and musicians.

Illustration of Ravana raising a sword as he abducts Sita, while the vulture Jatayu attacks overhead in a rocky landscape.

Ceremonial textile depicting the Ramayana battle, with Rama's monkey and bear army fighting Ravana's demon forces amid large armed figures.

Traditional Hindu painting of Sita seated amid flames during Agni Pariksha, with Rama, Lakshmana, and an attendant standing nearby.

Two performers in elaborate costumes enact a dramatic scene from the Ramayana; one wears a large ornate headpiece and painted face, the other wears a gold sari and expressive jewelry.

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