Why I Do Not Want To Go to Ayodhya?
Ayodhya, Diwali, and the Unanswered Questions of Sita When I think of Ayodhya, I think of patriarchy—a place where male rulers, male dynasties, and male ideals were exalted. The Ramayana, retold by Tulsidas, is an epic that has inspired generations, but I hesitate to encourage my daughters to read it in its entirety. The story reflects many virtues, yet parts of it leave me questioning the values it promotes, especially regarding women’s place and agency. For me, this perspective is not a rejection of tradition nor a result of contemporary discourses on feminism. It’s a view that took root long ago, when I was barely twelve or thirteen, and it solidified through my own life experiences—especially the day I left my father’s home to live with my husband and adjust to a new family’s traditions after getting married. This transition highlighted for me the stark expectations that women shoulder in society. Many of us find pride in goddesses like Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati, believing them...