Ravan inspires!

Families are always a strange band of characters and can come up with the most surprising results whenever they sit and work together. I still remember what we did on the 6^th of October in 2011.

What do I do with my Ravan?

When I asked a philosopher
‘What do I do with my Ravan?’ – the philosopher
Spoke familiar words
Dripping with familiar ideas
Reaching familiar ends
He told me to abandon the evil
Within and around
He also told me to celebrate
That day as the world celebrates Dushera.

Then I asked a politician
‘What do I do with my Ravan?’ and the politician
Folded his hands to do a namaste
Gave me a beatific smile
Looked up dreamily and asked me to
Vote for him
In the next elections too
Stay away from burning effigies
And happily watch Ravan burn on Dushera.

I looked at the paper-doll Ravan I was holding
Found the colours fascinating
And the ten heads simply too charming to
Burn and forget
So I pretended I was killing him
And then hid him out of sight
Hoping all the evil within and around
Would no longer trouble me –
I hope I take my Ravan out only once a year!

Crossword

Ravan_crossword grid

The clues are given here. The answers are given at the end of each line of the clue and can be read if you ‘select’ the blank area after the sentence ends.

Across

1 Effigy of Ravan is burnt on this day. (13) VIJAYADASHAMI
4 Ravan had a thorough knowledge of the four of these! (4) VEDA
7 Ravan had a thorough knowledge of the six of these! (9) UPANISHAD
8 How was Mandodari related to Ravan? (4) WIFE
10 This is what Ravan did to Sita. (6) KIDNAP
12 Ravan’s father was a great sage. What was his name? (8) VISHRAVA
16 Who cursed Ravan that Lanka would be destroyed by a monkey? (5) NANDI
17 The king of Lanka had these many heads! (3) TEN
19 This salt water lake next to Lake Mansarovar is where Ravan did his penance. (11) RAKSHASTAAL
22 Ravan played this musical instrument. (5) VEENA
23 Vedavati was reborn as this person and was the prime reason for Ravan’s death. (4) SITA
25 The Hindi equivalent of penance. (7) TAPASYA
26 What is the Indonesian name for Ravan? (7) RAHWANA
27 Ravan’s sister whose nose was cut off by Lakshmana. (10) SURPANAKHA
28 Ravan is the most revered devotee of this God. (5) SHIVA
29 What is the English word for Rakshasha? (5) DEMON

Down

2 Ravan married Mandodari 32 kilometers away from this city in modern India. (7) JODHPUR
3 Shiva, annoyed by Ravan’s arrogance, was able to pin him down by his littlest __? (3) TOE
5 Ravan was a ‘BrahmaRakshasa’ as he was a cross between a Brahmin and __? (6) DAITYA
6 Ravan killed this bird while abducting Sita. (6) JATAYU
9 The king of Lanka in Ramayana! (5) RAVAN
10 This brother of Ravan is famous for his unending sleep! (11) KUMBHAKARNA
11 Ravan authored this book on Hindu Astrology. (6,7)RAVANA SANHITA
13 This name is given to the dramatic enactment of the story of Ramayana. (8) RAMLEELA
14 Ravan’s mother was a Daitya princess. What was her name? (7) KAIKESI
15 This Guardian of Heavenly Wealth was a half-brother of Ravan. (6) KUBERA
18 The nectar of immortality was stored in ravan’s navel. Who granted him this boon? (6) BRAHMA
20 Who kills Ravan in the Jain version of Ramayana? (9)LAKSHMANA
21 How many sons did Ravan have? (5) SEVEN
22 Lanka was conceptualised by this celestial architect. (11) VISHWAKARMA
24 Shiva’s divine sword gifted to Ravan. (10) CHANDRAHAS
25 How many wives did Ravan have? (5) THREE
Pictures