The Ramayana - The Great Hindu Epic

Khon, the Masked Dance Drama in Thailand, is a performing art that combines musical, vocal, literary, dance, ritual and handicraft elements. Khon performances, which involve graceful dance movements, instrumental and vocal renditions and glittering costumes, depict the glory of Rama in the Hindu epic of Ramayana (Thai: Ramakien).

Thailand issued many stamps show Khon masks. Here is one issued on June 10, 1975:

- Tosakanth (Ravana)
- Kumbhakarn
- Lord Rama
- Hanuman

Second set was issued by Thailand on July 1, 1981:

- Ongkhot
- Maiyarab
- Sukrip (Sugriva the monkey)
- Indrajit

Deepavali is the Hindu festival of lights, marks the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating the demon Ravana. After the war, when god Rama returned his Kingdom, his followers lit candles to show him the way. To commemorate this event and to celebrate Rama victory, the victory of good over evil, people use to light candles during the Deepavali.

Here are stamps from India, Israel and Guyana celebrating Deepavali:

I received a gift a SS issued by India on January 18, 2024 shows Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple (Lord Rama birthplace) Ayodhya:

It contains six stamps shows statues of Ramayana's images and wall carvings show scenes of the epic.

Lord Ganesha:

Hanuman nonkey-god, the loyal servant of Lord Rama:

Shabari offering grapes to Lord Rama - a scene from the Ramayana:

Jatayu, king of the eagles and son of Garuda, fights Ravana the demon, at the time of Sita's abduction:

Rama, Lakshmana and Sita crossing the Ganga by Kevat's boat - a scene from the Ramayana:

Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple:

Scenes of Ramayana, a set of 11 stamps issued by India on September 22, 2017.

Here are the first 6 stamps.

Sita Swayamvar: Rama holding the Shiva bow and winning Sita's hand in marriage, with Sita standing next to him with a varmala (garland).

Ram's Exile: King Dasharatha, with a heavy heart, asking Rama to go into exile for 14 years.

Bharat Milap: Bharata meeting Rama in Chitrakoot and earnestly requesting him to return to Ayodhya and become king.

Kevat Incident: The boatman Kevat washing Rama's feet before ferrying them across the river.

Jatayu Dialogue: The encounter and dialogue with the dying demigod vulture Jatayu, who fought Ravana to save Sita.

Shabari Dialogue: Rama meeting the devout old woman Shabari and eating her berries.

...and the rest 5 stamps.

Hanuman-Sita Dialogue: Hanuman's interaction with Sita in the Ashok Vatika garden in Lanka.

Construction of Ram Setu: The building of the bridge to Lanka by the Vaanar (monkey) army.

Hanuman carrying Sanjivani: Hanuman flying with the mountain containing the Sanjivani medicinal herb to save Lakshmana's life.

Killing of Ravana: The final battle scene depicting the defeat of the demon king Ravana.

Lord Ram's Ascension to the Throne (Pattabhishekam): The final scene of Lord Rama's triumphant return to Ayodhya and coronation.

The above set was issued in a sheet and a souvenir sheet.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), established in 1967, is a geo-political and economic organization of ten countries located in Southeast Asia.

On January 25, 2018, India issued a sheet of 11 stamps to commemorate the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Partnership. In general, the stamps depicting the linkage between the culture and religion of each one of the countries and India. Seven of the stamps show different versions of the great Hindu epic - the Ramayana. Here they are:

Cambodia - attack of the monkey warriors on Kumbha Karna, the brother of the demon Ravana.

Laos - Hanuman monkey-god, the servant of Lord Rama from the Lao version of the Ramayana called Phra Lak Phra Ram:

Myanmar - Lord Rama and his wife Sita in the Burmese version of the Ramayana called Yama Zatdaw:

Philippines - the scene depicting is a form of a famous dance, the Singkil, derived from the Darangen, the local version of the Ramayana:

Indonesia - the Indonesian version of the Ramayana is called Kakawin Ramayana and it was probably written during the Medang Kingdom (732-1006).

Thailand - stamp depicting the traditional Khon dance-drama that derived from the Ramakien, an adaption of the Ramayana. In the upper right is the Hanuman monkey-god mask.

India - Lord Rama, hero of the Ramayana epic, on Patham katha, cloth-based scroll painting from Andhra Pradesh:

Issued as a sheet:

The other four stamps representing Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei with different themes link to India.

Hanuman Monkey-god statues, Guinea Bissau, 2010.

Hanuman statue on the left corner

Mongolia 14 October 2025 Joint issue with India - 70th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with India.
Theme - Theatrical performance, Ramlila for India.
Ramlila is a theatrical retelling of the story Lord Rama.
India issued a similar miniature sheet, but with the Ramlila stamp on the left, instead of the right, as in this miniature sheet.

Great sheet, tantsbsac, features the main characters of the Ramayana. Many thanks for sharing.

The image of Hanuman in the Wayang Kulit, Javanese shadow-puppet theatre., issued by Indonesia on March 29, 2010.

Hanuman monkey-god on cachets of old British India postcards and juridical document

Hanuman with the ten-headed demon Ravana.

Hanuman with the medicinal herb Sanjiwani.

Hanuman Statue.

Hanuman on juridical document.

Hanuman Monkey-god, servant of Lord Rama, issued by Thailand in 2004 to celebrate the coming Year of the Monkey.