Coincidence? Goggle map gives proof of 21 days link between Dussehra and Diwali days; Netizens weigh in

Coincidentally, the Hindu festival of lights celebrated every year in autumn, Diwali is celebrated just 21 days after Dussehra because this was the day when Lord Rama arrived in Ayodhya after killing Asur “Ravan”.

As at the time of Rama, there were no automobiles to cover the road distances, so now people are curious to know the travel time taken by Rama, his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana when they returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.

The distance is approximately 3000 km.

Netizens tried to dig into the matter and asked various questions related to the this with many theories floating on internet.

Here are some interesting answers:

In order to assess the distance given by Goggle Map, an internet user Gunjan Gupta has assumed that if Rama began his journey from Rameswaram and exchanged his horses along the path.

“From Dusshera to Diwali its exactly 20 days. Now travelling 2618 km in 20 days means travelling on an average of 130 km a day. So lets see if it was possible to travel 130 km a day in those times. The fastest way to travel would be on horse.” Drawing reference from the Roman empire’s message transportation system, he said fit horses could travel 80-100km a day. “So 100 km in a day is quite possible. Although it is unlikely that same horse can travel for 100 km in a stretch for 20 days. However note that Rama had well wishers and friendly kingdoms all along the way, so it is quite possible that en-route they would have been changing their horses, again getting the best and fittest horses along the way.” Supporting the speed theory of the horses, he added, “I think the main reason such travel times were possible was because horses could be changed en route. It is quite unlikely for the same horse to travel this fast over such a pro-longed period of time, but quite possible if the rider is able to switch horses and get fresh and fit horses as soon as the current one gets tired.”

Ashish Tiwari, another user claimed that the journey covered by Rama is possible on foot too but it is necessary to assume that they did not rest for a single minute to cover their journey.

“On checking the distance and the time taken by walking to cover that distance is 514hrs. it means approximately 20 days. Only thing we have to assume is, Shree Ram walks continuously for 20 days, I think that’s why we call him GOD.”

Another user, Mani Duraisamy who beleives that '‘Religion always compliments science'.

He tried to justify his answer by saying, "In the actual Ramayan- its said that Sita was kidnapped somewhere in the 10th year of the exile and the search for Sita, going to Lanka, fighting the war and killing Ravana took atleast another 2.5- 3 years. By the time it was over it was 13 years completed. In all probability, Rama and Co. still have about 1 year of their exile yet to be completed as Rama was an obedient son, He would be compelled to abide to the Dharma."

He also discussed about how Diwali is celebrated each year.

"One year is a good time for them to complete their return journey. Its likely that Rama took 1 year and 18 days (at the max) to reach Ayodhya after he killed Ravana."