edHelper.com
Ancient India
 Diwali and the Epic Tale of Rama

Diwali and the Epic Tale of Rama
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 5 to 7
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   6.39

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    abduction, broken-hearted, diyas, regent, alliance, origin, burning, exile, plea, epic, original, various, bloody, combat, transition, knowing
     content words:    Prince Rama, When Lakshmana, When Sita

Print Diwali and the Epic Tale of Rama
     Print Diwali and the Epic Tale of Rama  (font options, pick words for additional puzzles, and more)

Quickly Print - PDF format
     Quickly Print: PDF (2 columns per page)
     Quickly Print: PDF (full page)

Quickly Print - HTML format
     Quickly Print: HTML

Proofreading Activity
     Print a proofreading activity

Feedback on Diwali and the Epic Tale of Rama
     Leave your feedback on Diwali and the Epic Tale of Rama  (use this link if you found an error in the story)

Diwali and the Epic Tale of Rama
By Vickie Chao 		  
1     Everybody has his or her own favorite holiday. If we put this issue to a vote in India, Diwali can probably win the title by a landslide. Diwali is a Hindu holiday that takes place once a year around October and November. During the five-day celebration, people wear new clothes. They exchange sweets. They set off firecrackers. And most importantly, they light up oil lamps ("diyas" in Hindi) and place them all around their homes. The reason for doing this is obvious, for Diwali is the Festival of Lights!
 
2     Interestingly, though Diwali is a very popular holiday in India, there is no unified account about its origin. Among the various versions, the epic tale of Rama is perhaps the most famous.
 
3     Prince Rama was the eldest son of the king of Ayodhya. He was supposed to be the next king when his father retired from ruling. As the transition of power was about to take place, Rama's stepmother intervened. She wanted her own son, Bharata, to be the next king. To get what she wanted, she went to see the king and reminded him that he had once granted her two wishes. She demanded Rama be banished from the kingdom for fourteen years and Bharata be the crowned prince. The king was torn. On one hand, he adored Rama and did not want to let him go. On the other hand, he was the king, and he must honor his words. Difficult as it was, the king ordered Rama to leave the kingdom. Rama knew his father's struggle. He accepted the command in good spirit. He departed with his wife, Sita, and younger brother, Lakshmana. Shortly after the trio left Ayodhya, the king died and Bharata ascended the throne.
 
4     When Bharata finally learned what his mother had done, he sought out Rama in a forest. He begged him to return, but Rama refused. Realizing that he could not change his brother's mind, Bharata took his brother's sandals and said, "I will place these sandals on the throne as symbols of your authority, and I will rule the kingdom as regent. When the fourteen years of banishment are over, I will happily deliver the kingdom back to you."
 
5     One day during the exile, a woman named Surpnakha passed by the place where Rama was living with his wife and brother. She saw Rama and fell in love at the first sight. Eager to be with him forever, she asked him to marry her. Rama adamantly refused and told her that he was already happily married to Sita. Surphakha did not take the rejection very well. She charged toward Sita, planning to kill her. When Lakshmana saw that, he stopped her and cut off her nose and one ear.

Paragraphs 6 to 13:
For the complete story with questions: click here for printable
Weekly Reading Books

          Create Weekly Reading Books

Prepare for an entire week at once!

Ancient India
             Ancient India

Social Studies
             Social Studies


    2004 Elections  
 
    2008 Elections  
 
    United States History and Theme Units  
 
    American Government  
 
    Ancient America  
 
    Ancient China  
 
    Ancient Egypt  
 
    Ancient Greece  
 
    Ancient India  
 
    Ancient Mesopotamia  
 
    Ancient Rome  
 
    Biographies  
 
    Canadian Theme Unit  
 
    Country Theme Units  
 
    Crime and Terrorism  
 
    Economics  
 
 
    European History: 1600s-1800s  
 
    Explorers  
 
    Famous Educators  
 
    Geography  
 
    Grades 2-3 Social Studies Wendy's World Series  
 
    History of Books and Writing  
 
    History of Mathematics  
 
    How Can I Help?  
 
    Inventors and Inventions  
 
    Middle Ages  
 
    Renaissance  
 
    World Religion  
 
    World War I  
 
    World War II  
 
    World Wonders  
 

More Activities, Lesson Plans, and Worksheets


Back to School
Graphic Organizers
Alphabet Worksheets
Sight Words
Math Worksheets
Mazes
50 States
Education
Teaching

Monthly Themes
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Fractions
Place Value
Time and Calendar
Money
Earth Day
Solar System
Analogies
Nouns
Following Directions
Listening
Capitalization
Cursive Writing
Patterns and Sequencing
Dinosaurs
All About Me

Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Sixth Grade
Multiplication
Division
Main Idea
Cause and Effect
Measurement
Decimals
Rounding
Order of Operations
Verbs
Community Helpers
Adjectives
Plants
Grammar
Addition and Subtraction
Contractions
Bulletin Board Ideas
Word Searches
Crossword Puzzles
Printable Puzzles

Reading Comprehension
Reading Skills
English Language Arts



Copyright © 2013 edHelper