When Ravana Wore Rama's Face: The Deceptive Abduction in Regional Ramayana Traditions The Story of Deception The abduction of Sita marks one of the most pivotal moments in the Ramayana, setting in motion the great war between Rama and Ravana. While Valmiki's version presents the most widely known narrative, regional traditions across India preserve fascinating variations of this crucial episode. In certain versions, particularly found in folk traditions and regional retellings, Ravana employs an extraordinarily cunning strategy—he and Maricha disguise themselves as Rama and Lakshmana themselves to deceive Sita. According to this narrative, after successfully luring Rama and Lakshmana away from their ashram through Mareecha's golden deer stratagem, Ravana does not approach Sita in his true form or as a mendicant. Instead, both demons transform themselves to appear exactly as the two princes. They approach Sita with familiar faces, speaking in voices she trusts completely....