Ramayana, the episode of Great War between Rama & Ravana

Ramakien is the Thai version of Ramayana, the 24,000 stanza-long ancient Indian epic composed some 2,500 years ago (600 B.E.) by the Indian sage Valmiki. Ramakien has shaped classical Thai arts more than any other secular influence, providing story line for such performing arts as puppet play, Nang Yai and Nang Talung, Shadow Puppet show, etc. But the most favourite one and considered the finest Thai classical performance is the Khon (Thai Classical Mask Play,) which depicts a war between Rama and the Giant King, Ravana, struggle between good and evil In this scene the audience will witness the whole fighting process in the final battle. Rama and Laksamana will be seen fighting with Ravana the same time. Both will climb on the body of Ravana in an acrobatic pose, which show the great skill of the performers. It is also the symbol of the victory of good over evil. The audience must not forget that Ravana is a huge giant and Rama and Laksamana are human beings much smaller than the giant but courageous enough to fight with him.

The Synopsis of Ramayana

The principal Khon theme is the story of Rama in its Thai version, The Ramakien. The great part of Ramayana story as performed in Khon is concerned with the war waged upon Thotsakan (Ravana), the demon-king of Longka, by Rama and his brother Laksamana. The two brothers, with Rama's wife, Nang Sida (Sita Devi), go to become hermits for awhile in the depths of a forest when the demon-king, abducting Sida, brings her to his pleasure garden near the city of Longka in the hope of marring her. The brothers start a pursuit. Hanuman volunteers his services and through Rama and Laksamana, wins two allies-Sukrip (Sugriwa), king of Khitkhin, and Thao Mahajompu (the great king of Jompu). Marching with their allied armies to the southern tip of India, they acquire as another ally, Pipek (Wibisana), a brother of Thotsakan who has been banished by the demon-king. Crossing the ocean, Rama and Laksamana lay siege to the city of Longka and following a series of battles with the demons of Langka and their allies, the armies of Rama are successful. Thotsakan, having exhausted all help from relatives and allies, resolves upon going out himself to give battle to the enemy. He is killed. Rama then installs pipek as king of Longka and returns with record some further adventures of Rama But, save for the single episode of the adventures of Rama's sons, these sub-sequent event are rarely staged in Khon.

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