Grief - Struck Ayodhya

King Dasharatha and his queens were very happy that their sons were now married. The old king then decided that he would perform the ceremony to make Rama the heir apparent, to succeed him as the next king.

Announcements were made all over the kingdom about this celebration, when Rama would be crowned the Yuvaraja.

Ayodhya was grandly decorated and all kinds of festivities were planned, for the joyful occasion to take place the next day.

When Manthara, the old maid of Queen Kaikeyi, heard of the ceremony, she went to her mistress' chambers and asked to meet her alone.

Kaikeyi was also in a light-hearted mood on hearing of the coronation of Rama as the Yuvaraja.