Kashiites miss worldfamous Ramlila
The decision to not organise the centuries-old ‘Ramnagar Ramlila’ has left its lovers disappointed.
VARANASI Lovers of Ramlila in the temple town are disappointed as the worldfamous annual event ‘Ramnagar Ramilia’ will not be held this year here due to the Covid pandemic. Many say that even holding the event symbolically will give them some solace and also help continue the over two centuries’ old tradition. It is believed that the Ramlila started in the early 1800s.
VARANASI While Ramlila committees in various cities, including Prayagraj, are planning virtual Ramlilas due to the Covid pandemic, the world-famous ‘Ramnagar Ramilia’ in Varanasi is not being held this year and there is no plan to organise online Ramlila in this temple town.
The decision to not organise the ‘Ramnagar Ramlila’ has left its lovers disappointed. Many of them say that even holding the event symbolically will give them some solace and also help continue the over two centuries’ old tradition.
It is believed that Ramnagar Ramlila began in the early 1800s during the reign of the then Kashi Naresh Maharaja Udit Narayan Singh. Since then, it starts on Anant Chaturdashi and continues for 31 days.
Ashutosh Pandey, a member of the Vyas family which has been playing a crucial role for many generations in ensuring successful staging of Ramlila ever since the event was started, said, “In the past, Ramlila used to begin on Anant Chaturdashi. But it could not start on Anant Chaturdashi, which fell on September 1 this year, following the Covid-19 pandemic.”
“At the behest of Ramlila lovers, locals along with Vyas family members are likely to put a proposal before the Kashi Naresh Kunwar Anant Narayan Singh to organise the event symbolically when he returns from Delhi,” Pandey added.
“A meeting is likely to take place on September 29 at Ramnagar Fort, if Kunwar Sahab returns by then,” he said.
“If a decision is taken to organise Ramlila symbolically, only five members of the Vyas family will recite the Ramcharitmanas in the evening from September 30 and would perform ‘Aarti’ of the crown thereafter on Ramlila ground near Ramnagar fort,” Pandey further said.
The Ramlila of Ramnagar has umpteen lovers in Varanasi and adjoining areas. Even foreign tourists also come to see it.
“This tradition should never break. More so because people learn how to respect women and parents. It also gives lessons to stay away from bad deeds. It’s like a moral science class for everyone,” feels local neuro physician Prof Vijay Nath Mishra, who is an ardent lover of the event like many others. Other Ramlila watchers like Vijay Narayan
Pandey and Pt Prasad Dikshit echoed similar views.
From the stage, artistes, sound and light technicians to its sets and decoration, everything is exclusive about this Ramlia. It is known for its lavish sets, dialogues and the visual spectacle. It has been recognised as an intangible world cultural heritage by UNESCO.
The Ramlila is staged in the backdrop of the famous Ramnagar fort, under the open sky and with only traditional lamps (panchlight) being the source of light. Young children are selected and special training is imparted to them to play the characters of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Laxman, Bharat and Shatrughna.
Moreover, Ramnagar police station officer Naresh Kumar Singh said the organisers had verbally informed him that Ramlila will not take place this year. Another senior police officer said in the wake of Covid pandemic, the administration had appealed to the Ramlila organisers to follow government guidelines to keep an effective check on spread of corona. The organisers had assured them of full cooperation, he added.
At the behest of Ramlila lovers, locals along with Vyas family members are likely to put a proposal before the Kashi Naresh Kunwar Anant Narayan Singh to organise the event symbolically when he returns from Delhi ASHUTOSH PANDEY, a member of the Vyas family