Ravan, the all-powerful demon king of Lanka, often finds his way into everyday conversations in India. Whenever my grandmother came across an arrogant person, she would say, “Ghamand toh Raja Ravan ka bhi nahin raha tha.” She meant that even the mighty Ravan had not been spared the consequences of his pride. Many other sayings and expressions are associated with the demon king, whose story continues to be retold across generations.
According to the Ramayan, Ravan was the eldest son of Sage Vishrava and Kaikasi. He was known as Dashagriva, or the ten-headed one, and was later called Ravan, a name associated with his fearsome roar. His ten heads and twenty arms made him formidable, but his powers extended far beyond his physical appearance.
Ravan was a great scholar, well-versed in religious texts, a gifted musician, and a devoted worshipper of Lord Shiva. The Ravanhatha, an ancient bowed string instrument associated with Rajasthan, is also linked to him in popular tradition. He possessed many remarkable qualities, yet his arrogance and unchecked ambition led him to abduct Sita, the wife of Lord Ram, and hold her captive in Ashok Vatika. Ram eventually defeated and killed Ravan, rescuing Sita with the help of Lakshman, Sugreev, Hanuman and the Vanara army.
The story comes alive every year during Navratri, when Ramlila performances recreate episodes from the Ramayan. In Delhi, these performances often spill beyond the stage. Actors dressed as Ram, Lakshman, Sita and Ravan appear in processions, travelling on decorated floats as crowds gather to watch the familiar drama unfold.
Delhi’s traffic, already notorious, becomes considerably worse during the festive season. During one such Ramlila procession, I photographed Ravan caught in a traffic jam on a Delhi street.
There he was, the mighty king of Lanka, waiting patiently for the traffic to move. He even smiled at me.
I wondered what might have happened had the real Ravan found himself in a Delhi traffic jam. Would he have roared in fury, threatened to burn the city down, or accepted his fate like the rest of us? Perhaps he would have put his ten heads to good use, looking for a way out of the congestion.
The actors playing Ravan in Ramlila usually have a more entertaining response. Their loud, booming “Ha! Ha! Ha!” is one of my favourite parts of the performance. On that day, though, Ravan seemed to have discovered a humbling truth: even a king with ten heads cannot do much when Delhi traffic refuses to move.
Actor playing the role of a vanar in Sugreev’s army.
Dussehra, also known as Vijaya Dashami, marks Lord Ram’s victory over the demon king Ravana, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran, and Meghnath are burnt as a symbolic act to celebrate this victory.
Photos and content by Prerna Jain
