1. The Story of Rama and Sita

2. Rama was married to a beautiful princess, called Sita.

3. They had been banished to live in the forest with his brother, Lakshman, by his stepmother. She wanted her son to be King. Ravana, the Demon king with ten heads, heard of Sita’s beauty and goodness and planned to kidnap her.

4. The demon king disguised himself as an old man in need of help and tricked Sita. When she went to help him, he kidnapped her and flew away on his chariot back to his island, Lanka.

5. Rama and Lakshman searched many months for Sita
Rama and Lakshman searched many months for Sita. Finally, they asked Hanuman, king of the monkey army, for help. Hanuman could fly.

6. He found Sita imprisoned on the island of Lanka.

7. There was a battle to get Sita back
There was a battle to get Sita back. One of the greatest battles ever seen. The fighting lasted for ten whole days.

8. Ravana was close to defeating Rama, until Rama borrowed a special bow and arrow from the gods. He shot Ravana and the battle was won.

9. Rama rescued Sita and they decided to go home
Rama rescued Sita and they decided to go home. As it got dark, the people of the kingdom put out little oil lamps (divas) in their windows to show the way home.

10. Everyone was happy and Rama and Sita ruled well
Everyone was happy and Rama and Sita ruled well. Now every year people remember this story at Diwali by lighting diva lights inside their homes and fireworks outside.