Ramlilas in Sangam City to go virtual this year
PRAYAGRAJ: The city’s famous Ramlilas (stage plays on lord Ram’s life) could be staged virtually this year.
That’s because the conventional stage plays depicting various anecdotes related to lord Ram and which attract sizeable audience, might not be possible this time due to the threat of Covid-19.
Organisers of various Ramlila committees, who are preparing to stage these popular plays online, said had it not been for Covid-19, the Ramlilas this year would have been held on a grand scale. “Due to Supreme Court’s decision on Ram temple and the Bhoomi Pujan at Ayodhya, the Ramlilas at Prayagraj would have been held on a grand scale. However, Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to alter our plans and we plan to organize online Ramlilas for devotees,” the organisers said.
Every year, from mid-October onwards, grand ‘jhankis’ and ‘Ramdal’ (tableaus on Lord Ram’s life) were taken out as part of the Dussehra celebrations, which too are likely to be hit due to the pandemic.
“This is the first time in past 106 years when Dussehra processions and Ramlila will not be the same in Prayagraj,” said Daraganj Ramlila committee member Pandit Teerthraj Pandey.
He said Rajaram Shastri who used to play Hanuman during Ramlilas decades back informed him that Ramlila and Ramdal were restricted in 1913-14 due to riots in the city. “However, I am told, even then, Ramlila was played at Daraganj Nagri Press premises for sake of tradition, he added. “Ramlilas will be organised as per the guidelines issued by the administration. More concessions are expected gradually but if the situation doesn’t improve then arrangements will be made to broadcast online play of Ramlilas,” said Prayagraj Ramleela Mahasangh chairman Phulchandra Dubey.
Katra Ramlila Committee general secretary Gopal Babu also said they would stage online Ramlilas if staging conventional plays won’t be possible.
Spokesperson of Patharchatti Ramleela Committee Lallulal Gupta said the religious plays would be organised as per the instructions and guidelines issued by the government. Committee would consider showing online Ramlilas as well, he added.
Meanwhile, ‘Mukut Pujan’ will be organized by Ramleela committees on September 13. Pajawa Ramlila committee will perform ‘mukut pujan’ in Shahganj while Katra Ramleela will perform the pujan at Bhardwaj Park but will not take out Rawan Yatra.