The Ten Days (Dusshera) 9th of the month of Asvin (October/November)

Dusshera is the period of ten days which culminate in the festival of Divali, the Festival of Lights (q. v.) and is celebrated by dramatised episodes from the life of Rama, performed by travelling players. Lord Rama is the seventh descent to earth of the god Vishnu whose purpose was to defeat the demon-king of Lanka (known until recently as Ceylon, now Sri Lanka). Rama was the son and heir of the King of Ayodhya (now in the state of Uttar Pradesh), but was banished because of his stepmother's jealous connivance (see Rama's Birthday). After many hardships, Rama, helped by his faithful wife, Sita, defeated the demon, Ravana. During the festival huge paper effigies of Ravana are burned to celebrate the victory of good over evil. (See Divali, the Festival of Lights for the story of Rama's return, the sequel to this story.)

Rama Defeats the Demon Ravana

Rama and his wife Sita had been forced to leave the land where Rama should have been king. Rama had asked Sita not to follow him to face unknown dangers, but she went all the same, saying that a wife's place is by her husband's side. For some time they lived in the great forest.
While Rama and Sita passed their time in the forest an army was marching about the land causing misery and terror wherever it went. At its head was the wicked demon-king Ravana. Ravana had heard of Sita 's beauty and was determined to make her his wife.

Being a demon, Ravana had the power to use certain magic spells. He sent into the forest, close to where Rama and Sita were resting, a most beautiful deer. As soon as she saw the deer Sita wanted Rama to capture it for her. He gave chase. But each time he came near the deer seemed to be a long way ahead again. Deeper and deeper into the forest went Rama never getting any closer to the deer. As soon as Rama was out of sight Ravana swooped down in his flying chariot, his ten heads grinning wickedly. He seized Sita and made off with her through the skies back to the island of Lanka where he was king. At last Rama came back from deep in the forest to where he had left his wife. Sita was gone.

As Sita was being taken through the sky to Lanka in Ravana 's chariot, Jatayu, King of the Vultures heard her cries for help. He flew up to attack the demon, but, though he fought hard, Jatayu was fatally wounded and the chariot sped on its way. As he searched for Sita, Rama came across the dying bird. Jatayu hardly had breath to speak, but he managed to explain to Rama what had happened -and then he died.
Rama said, 'He died for my sake, and he who dies for my sake must go to the highest heaven.'

Although Rama was anxious to chase after the demon:, Ravana, he built a proper funeral fire for the King of the Birds and prayed for his soul.

On the way Rama made friends with a monkey called Sugriva. Sugriva had once been king in the land of monkeys, but, like Raffia, the throne had been taken from him. Sugriva promised Raffia the help of all the monkey people if Raffia would first free them from the wicked Bali. After a struggle and some fighting Bali was defeated and killed. Sugriva now kept his promise and gathered a vast army of monkeys together. Led by Raffia and Sugriva they travelled until they reached the sea. Beyond it lay the kingdom of Lanka.

Sugriva ordered his monkey general, Hanuman, to fly across the water to spy on Ravana 's fortress and to find where Sita was. He found Sita in the gardens. Ravana had threatened to kill her and eat her if she would not be his wife, but Sita had refused. Hanuman told Sita of the plans to rescue her . Delighted with how well things were going, Hanuman jumped and leaped excitedly all around Ravana 's garden pulling up the plants and scattering the flowers. When it was reported by his guards that a monkey was destroying his beautiful garden, Ravana sent his soldiers to stop him. After a short but fierce fight Hanuman was seized and dragged before the ten-headed demon-king.

However, playful though he was, Hanuman was a monkey of great intelligence with a very quick mind. He told Ravana that he had been sent as a messenger from Raffia and that any real king would not dream of harming a messenger sent by the enemy. This was quite right of course and so Ravana listened to what Hanuman had to say.

But Ravana grew angrier with every word the monkey general spoke. Fearlessly Hanuman scorned the wicked and cruel things that Ravana had done. Ravana lost his temper with the brave and cheeky monkey, shouting, 'There may be a law to say that I cannot kill an enemy messenger, but there is nothing to stop me from punishing his rudeness. A monkey's tail is very precious to him. Guards! Tie oily rags round his tail and set fire to them.'

As the rags were lit Hanuman leaped out of the grasp of the guards and jumped out of the window. He ran round the rooftops of the city, his tail burning behind him. Every building he landed on began to catch fire, and before Hanuman left the island, the whole place was burning fiercely. The demons rushed around madly not knowing which fire to put out first.

As Hanuman came back to the mainland where Raffia was with Sugriva's monkey army, they had just finished building a bridge across the sea. The last few stones and boulders were hurled into place and then men and monkeys swarmed over to attack the demon army.

The battle was long and hard. Many demons were killed by the monkey army. Many monkeys were eaten by a giant demon. Twice Raffia himself was captured but the clever Hanuman helped him to escape. At last all the demon generals were killed and the fight was between Rama and Ravana alone.

Ravana was horrible to look at. He was huge in size and he had ten wicked-looking heads. As Raffia cut off one head another immediately grew in its place. There seemed to be no way of killing the demon. During a rest in the fight Raffia quickly took a special arrow from his quiver. He had been waiting for the chance to use it for it had been blessed and given to him by the gods. The fire of the sun burned in its point, the speed of the wind was in its flight, and the weight of the mountain of heaven was behind the force of Raffia 's shot. As it struck Ravana in the heart, he staggered backwards. From each of his ten ugly heads came a deathly scream. And then the Demon King fell to the ground, dead.
Raffia wiped the sweat from his forehead and breathed a deep sigh of relief. The sound of the gods singing their hymns of praise to him could be heard from afar. Raffia had defeated evil and Sita could be with him once again.

This hymn is to the God Vishnu. Raffia was Vishnu in human form on earth.

Wherever I go you are my friend; You take my hand and guide me. As I walk along I lean on you
And you travel with me and carry my load. When I say foolish things in temper
You control me and take away my shame. Now I know that every man is a friend of mine, I pray like a happy child,
For I feel your joy within me and around me.
(by Tukaraffi 1608-1649)