New Delhi: SriLankan Airlines has recently earned widespread acclaim for a new advertisement that brilliantly blends the timeless epic of the Ramayana with real-world sites across Sri Lanka. The advertisement, aimed at positioning Sri Lanka as a premier tourist destination for Indian travelers and devotees of Lord Rama, invites viewers to embark on a journey tracing the footsteps of legendary characters through the country’s most captivating landscapes.
The ad, shared on X (formerly Twitter), opens with the tagline, “Relive the Epic of The Ramayana Trail.” It invites travelers to explore Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage with SriLankan Holidays, offering a “fully customized experience” tailored for every adventure seeker. “Every step of your journey is crafted to reveal the grandeur and glory of these ancient tales,” the ad promises, encouraging viewers to “begin their unforgettable journey today.”
The advertisement tells the story of a grandmother and her young grandson exploring the ‘Ramayana Trail’ together. When the curious boy asks if the sites they visit in the epic actually exist, his grandmother confirms, leading into a vivid animated scene of Ravana flying with Sita to Sri Lanka in his Pushpaka Vimana. The visuals transition to iconic locations believed to be part of the Ramayana, including Ravana’s Cave, where Sita was held captive.
The grandmother narrates how Hanuman discovered Sita in Lanka, praying for rescue, and describes his eventual capture by Ravana, the burning of his tail, and his symbolic revenge on Ravana’s palace. When the grandson asks about Lord Rama’s arrival in Lanka, she recounts the construction of the Ram Setu bridge, built by Rama’s devoted army to cross into Lanka and reclaim Sita.
The journey continues, highlighting Hanuman’s heroic effort to lift the Sanjeevani mountain to save Laxmana and Rama’s ultimate use of the Brahmastra weapon to defeat Ravana. Finally, the ad captures the crowning of Ravana’s brother, Vibhishana, as the new king of Lanka before Rama’s victorious return to Ayodhya.
Since its release on November 8, the ad has resonated strongly with Indian audiences, especially those devoted to the tales of the Ramayana. Numerous viewers have shared their thoughts in the comments, expressing appreciation for SriLankan Airlines’ creative approach to showcasing these spiritual and historical locations.
