If your child has ever seen a giant Ravana towering over a Dussehra ground, they may have wondered:
“Why are we burning Ravana?”
It's a great question and the answer takes us back to one of India's best-known stories: the Ramayana.
Every year on Dussehra, huge effigies of Ravana are burned in many parts of India. The tradition is connected to the story of Lord Rama's victory over Ravana and has come to represent the triumph of good over evil.
Who Was Ravana?
Ravana was the powerful king of Lanka and one of the central characters in the Ramayana.
He was known for being highly learned, powerful and a great devotee of Lord Shiva. But he was also proud and allowed his desire for power to lead him into wrongdoing.
The most important part of his story is his abduction of Sita, Lord Rama's wife.
Rama, along with his brother Lakshmana and an army that included Hanuman and the vanaras, travelled to Lanka to rescue Sita. After a great battle, Rama defeated Ravana.
This victory is remembered on Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami.
Why Does Ravana Have Ten Heads?
One of the most fascinating things children notice about Ravana is his ten heads.
Different traditions and interpretations explain them in different ways. Some see the ten heads as representing different human tendencies or weaknesses, while others connect them to Ravana's extraordinary knowledge and abilities.
Rather than focusing on one fixed meaning, the ten heads can be a starting point for a conversation with children:
Can someone be very talented and still make wrong choices?
Ravana's story shows that knowledge, intelligence and power do not automatically make someone wise.
How we choose to use what we have matters too.
Why Do We Burn Ravana?
The burning of Ravana's effigy symbolises the victory of good over evil and righteousness over wrongdoing.
The giant effigy represents Ravana, while the fire represents his defeat at the hands of Rama.
In many places, effigies of Kumbhakarna and Meghnad, Ravana's brother and son, are also burned.
The tradition turns an ancient story into something people can see and experience together.
What Can Children Learn From the Story of Rama and Ravana?
The Ramayana is an enormous story with many characters and layers. A few simple ideas can be a good place to start:
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Choices matter. What we do can affect other people.
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Power comes with responsibility. Having strength or ability doesn't mean we should use it carelessly.
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Courage isn't just about fighting. Sometimes it means standing up for what is right.
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Pride can get in the way. Being talented or successful doesn't make someone right all the time.
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Good choices can be difficult. Doing what is right isn't always the easiest path.
The story becomes much more meaningful when children are encouraged to ask questions rather than simply being told who is “good” and who is “bad.”
Children may first encounter the Ramayana through a bedtime story, a Ramlila performance, a picture book, a family conversation or a Dussehra celebration. Seeing a huge Ravana effigy go up in flames can make that story suddenly feel real.
And the next year, they may remember a little more.
This is one of the ways cultural stories become part of childhood: through stories, sounds, celebrations and shared family experiences.
WonderBuddy's Let’s Sing for Our Gods musical book can be another simple way to bring devotional traditions into family time. Listening together gives children an opportunity to hear familiar stories and sounds, ask questions and gradually build their own connection with India's rich storytelling traditions.
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