Ramlila toh hogi! Organisers ready to shift indoors
anjuri.singh@hindustantimes.com
Maidans (grounds) are booked, costumes are finalised and rehearsals are on in full swing. But, Ramlila committees in the city claim they have no clarity as of now regarding permissions to stage Ramlilas. With hardly any time left, many feel arranging a stage, lights and backdrop in maidans may be tough, and plan to shift to auditoriums; if permissions come in too late.
“October 7 se Navratri start ho rahi hai, abhi tak permission nahi di hai… As of now, we’ve been told we can hold Ramlila without an audience in an indoor stadium or sports complex, but what’s the point? In case holding it outdoors is not an option and they allow audience indoors, we may go for it,” says Anil Garg from Shri Ram Dharmik Leela Committee, which usually conducts Ramlila in Keshav Puram and Pitampura.
“Ramlila toh hogi hi iss saal,” asserts Arjun Kumar, secretary, Lav Kush Ramlila Committee, Red Fort. “The scale will be decided based on DDMA guidelines. Venue change ho sakta hai, we may have to shift it indoors. We have finalised half hour slots with channels and have an agreement with them to telecast this live,” he adds.
However, some are confident of managing an outdoor event this year. “We are rehearsing every day and trying ki kisi tarah iss saal ho jaye. Sometime back, they had said permission will come in a few days and we must start preparations. But, abhi tak kuch nahi aaya government ke side se. Jaise hi kuch aata hai, we will start setting up everything,” says Rajesh Gahlot, chairman, Dwarka Sri Ramlila Society.