“Lanka Dahan” – A Painting from the Ramayana Series by Rounak Rai
Fire as Devotion, Protest, and Divine Wrath
In this electrifying work titled “Lanka Dahan”, artist Rounak Rai captures one of the most dramatic and symbolic moments in the Ramayana — when Hanuman sets the golden city of Lanka ablaze after his tail is set on fire by Ravana’s court. But in Rai’s hands, this act of destruction becomes something far more layered: a visual anthem of resistance, divine rage, and unwavering devotion.
The painting is divided into two emotional worlds. On the left, beneath the cool shelter of a tree, sits Sita in sorrow and seclusion — her figure quiet, minimal, and reflective. Above her, Hanuman leaps through the air, his body coiled in momentum, his flaming tail arcing like a comet across the canvas — an embodiment of righteous fury and divine power.
On the right, Ravana, with his ten heads, stands amidst a chorus of demonic figures. The flames engulf the city in a chaotic cascade of red and white, drawn in Rai’s signature stylized strokes. The demonic forms appear almost puppet-like — overwhelmed by the fire of truth and justice that Hanuman brings. The fire is not merely literal — it is symbolic of burning arrogance, illusion, and evil.
Rai’s characteristic style shines here:
Bold lines and flattened perspective, inspired by folk traditions
Symbolic use of color — red for aggression and divinity, green for protection, white for truth
Handwritten narrative text grounding the myth in oral storytelling tradition
Stylized figures with angular bodies and fierce expressions, full of energy and mythic rhythm
Through “Lanka Dahan”, Rounak Rai transforms an epic battle scene into a visual metaphor: Hanuman is not just burning Lanka — he is illuminating truth, shattering ego, and carving a path for dharma. The painting speaks to both timeless myth and urgent modern realities — where resistance, when born of devotion, becomes a holy flame.
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