Episode 7 of 7 · Return to Ayodhya

Rama Comes Home

After fourteen years, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana return home, and Ayodhya lights up with lamps.

Fourteen years had passed. Rama's time in the forest was over, and it was time to go home.
Rama, Sita and Lakshmana climbed into the Pushpaka, a flying chariot that looked like a giant lotus. Hanuman and their friends came too.
In Ayodhya, Bharata had been counting the days. When he saw Rama coming, he ran to hug him with happy tears.
It was a dark new-moon night, so the people lit thousands of lamps called diyas to show Rama the way. The whole city sparkled like stars.
Rama was crowned king of Ayodhya. Sita sat beside him, and Hanuman sat at his feet.
Rama ruled with kindness, and everyone was happy. That is why we light diyas every year on Diwali.

The moralLove and light bring everyone home.

Talk about it: How do you welcome someone you love when they come home?

Learn more

Facts, a quiz and words to know

Deepavali comes from deepa (lamp) and avali (row), so it means "a row of lamps".
The Pushpaka was a flying chariot, first the property of Kubera, god of wealth. Ravana had taken it.
Rama's rule is remembered as Rama Rajya, an ideal of fair and kind government where everyone is cared for.
Dussehra comes about twenty days before Diwali. Many people count those days as Rama's journey home from Lanka. The lamps of Diwali are a popular tradition; Valmiki's text describes Ayodhya decorated with flags and flowers.