Is Ram real? For Hindu's he is. All across India are sites associated with Ram's life-Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh where he was born, Citrakut, also in Uttra Pradesh, where he styed in the early days of his forest exile, Panchavati in Maharashtra from where Sita was abducted, Hampi where Ram met Hanuman, Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu from where he built a bridge to Lanka, and Rishikesh where he preformed penance to atone for the crime of killing Ravan who though a demon, was also a Brahman by birth. The days of Ram's birth, of his victory over Ravan and his return to Ayodhya are known and celebrated as Ram Navami, Dusshera and Diwali festivals. -D. Pattanaik