As 2022 drew to a close, the Government of India admitted in Parliament that it is difficult to conclusively prove that Ram Setu, the bridge between India and Sri Lanka (visible until 500 years ago) was manmade, as the Ramayana took place 18,000 years ago, the bridge is 56 km long, and satellite images show only limestone shoals.

This will not stop social media from talking about the floating stones of Rameshwaram—never once considering that the common “pumice stone” used by beauticians to remove dead skin also floats in water. Tourist guides in Sri Lanka will continue to take educated Indians to prehistoric spots identified as Ravana’s Palace, Ravana’s garden, Ravana’s underground bunker, Ravana’s airport, and the mountain of herbs that Hanuman brought from the Himalayas. Dronagiri village in Uttarakhand does not worship Hanuman as they are upset that he took away their mountain of herbs.