The Return to Ayodhya

Vibhishan gave Ram the Pushpak Viman, the flying chariot Ravan had once seized from Kuber. Ram, Sita, Lakshman, Sugriv, Hanuman, Vibhishan and many vanara heroes climbed aboard and set off through the sky towards Ayodhya.

On the way Ram pointed out each place to Sita: there is Ram Setu, here Ravan fell, that is Kishkindha where I made friends with Sugriv, and that is Panchavati, from where you were taken. Fourteen years of memories passed beneath them.

Ram stopped at the sage Bharadwaj's ashram at Prayag and sent Hanuman ahead. In the Ramcharitmanas, Bharat had vowed to give up his life if his brother did not return when the fourteen years ended. It was the last day, and Bharat was in anguish.

At Nandigram Hanuman gave Bharat the news: Ram is coming! Bharat wept with joy and embraced him. When the Pushpak landed, Bharat placed before Ram's feet the very sandals he had kept on the throne for fourteen years while ruling in Ram's name.

Ram first met Mother Kaikeyi, then Kaushalya and Sumitra. All of Ayodhya was decorated. Tradition says that to celebrate their Lord's return, people lit lamps in every home, and devotees still remember that light at Deepavali.