The Ramayana - The Diwali Dance Workshop
Introduction and Storytelling
Hello, I am _________ and I am here from West End in Schools!
I was wondering if anyone could tell me the name of the festival that we’re going to be
exploring today... [listens] Diwali! Brilliant!
Now the word Diwali means “row of lights”, which means the festival is the Festival of Light.
The Hindu and the Sikh communities both celebrate Diwali, but they tell a slightly different
story.
Today we’re going to be telling the story of The Ramayana - what’s it called? [listening]
Our story begins with a good and kind king - can I see everybody’s king? ...Lovely crowns,
some royal waves, wonderful!
The king had lots of wives, and lots of sons. One of the wives was very jealous, particularly
of the king’s favourite son, Rama - what was his name? [listens] And Rama has a wife, Sita -
what was her name? [listens]
The jealous wife banished Rama and Sita to the forest for fourteen years. Can everyone say,
“oh no!” [gasps] They were followed by Rama’s loyal and brave brother, Lakshman - what
was his name? [listens]
When they got to the forest they met an evil demoness. She took quite a fancy to the
brothers! When the brothers rejected her she was furious and she wanted to punish them.
The evil demoness created the most beautiful golden deer. Can I see everyone’s golden
dear? The golden deer ran off into the forest, and the brothers followed it, leaving Sita all
alone in the forest. The evil demoness captured Sita and took her to her brother: the
ten-headed demon, Ravana! [gasps] What was his name? [listens]
When the brothers returned to the forest, they realised that Sita had vanished! Can everyone
say, “dun, dun, DUN!”
Rama and Lakshman met Hanuman, the monkey king! Can I see everyone’s monkeys?
[monkey noises]
Hanuman and the rest of the monkeys helped Rama to defeat Ravana’s army in battle, YES!
So it was just Rama and Ravana left. Rama took his bow and arrow and he fired over and
over again but nothing would get rid of Ravana. Then, Rama was told that Ravana’s weak
spot was right in his navel. He reached up to the gods and he got a special golden arrow.
Can I see everyone reach up, get your golden arrow? ...Fantastic!
He pulled back the arrow and he fired one more time and it went straight through the centre
of Ravana, and he vanished in a puff of smoke! Can everyone say, “YES!”
There was a huge celebration. Rama and Sita were reunited and they got to go back to the
village where they belong. They travelled through the night, all the way home, and the
villagers had left out candles and lanterns all the way to help guide them. When they got
back there was a massive celebration! There was dancing, there was delicious food, there
were flowers, and there were fireworks. And that is why, still today, all over the world, Diwali
is celebrated with fireworks, and gifts, and family, and it celebrates love, and good
conquering evil, and the Festival of Light!
