Thai Ramayana Portrays Rama As Hero, Ravana Not Demon

The Thai version of the Ramayana tale, known as the Ramakien, presents Rama as the hero and Ravana as a mere human, contrary to Valmiki's original Ramayana where Ravana is depicted as a demon. According to Kangwan Guespond, an artist from the Sri Ramakien Troupe, Thailand perceives Rama as a human character rather than a divine being, and the Ramayana as simply a literary work, not a religious scripture.

For the Thai troupe, the Ramakien is an ancient text based on the Buddhist Dasaratha Jataka, which shares a similar theme with the Ramayana but has many crucial differences. Unlike the Ramayana, where Ravana meets his end after a protracted battle, the Ramakien concludes with a happy ending. The focus of the Ramakien is more on the romantic relationship between Rama and Sita, rather than religious themes.

The character names also differ, with Ravana referred to as Thoskan, Ram as Pha Ram, Laxmana as Pha La, and Sita as Seeda. The Ramakien has been around for about 500 years, originating during a time when Thailand was influenced by Hinduism. Today, Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist nation, with Hindus comprising a small fraction of the population.

The troupe also performed Thailand's traditional Khon dance drama at the venue, depicting pivotal scenes from the Ramakien such as the kidnapping of Sita and the epic war between Ram and Ravana. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Khon masked dance-drama showcases the epic through graceful choreography, intricate masks, and elaborate costumes inspired by the Ramakien.