The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Selfie points to reels: Ramlila organisers’ bid to attract young audiences
THE ANNUAL tradition of the Ramlilahasgeareduptobattlea problem of the modern age — the shrinking attention span of youngpeoplewhoarehookedto mobile phones. To get more youngsters to engage with the story of the Ramayana, which is beingperformedepisodicallyat present across North India, a number of major organisers haveturnedto social mediaand other technology.
Fromdwarkaramlilatoshri Ramlilacommitteeindraprastha, there are selfie points and constant updates on Facebook, Youtube, X and Instagram.
In Delhi, the Luv Kush Ramlila, which is visited by Presidents and Prime Ministers, includingformerpresidentram Nathkovindandnarendramodi, has been posting 30-second reels of their previous Ramlila shows for the first time. Their otherinitiativesincludeaspecial Ramayana performance by 80 school students for an audience of 2,000 other students, their parents and teachers.
“Whenwewereyounger, we usedtowatchramlilaperformances sitting on durries and munching peanuts. We didn’t have mobile phones but now every child holds one in their hands. Wewantyoungpeopleto engagedeeperwiththeramlila, aur unke andar sanskar aa sake,” saidarjunkumar, Presidentluv Kush Ramlila.
Organisers also said they are concerned that mobile phonefocused children are gradually moving away from Indian culture.“childrentodaymaynotbe able to tell you about Ram or Hanuman, but, theywillgiveyou information about Western superheroesandtheiradventures. Wewantchildrentowatchshort Ramlila reels while scrolling social media,” said Kumar.
He added that they have recreatedthekashivishwanath temple and named the main gate as Kashi Vishwanath Corridor“sothattheyouthlearn about Indian traditions”.
Selfie points have also come upatanotherprominentandold Ramlila in the city, the Nav Shri
Dharmik Leela Committee, on Redfortgrounds, whichalsohas spot competitions to keep children and young people glued to the story.
“We have also designed the Ramlilatokeepeverybodyinterested; this includes having a stylised way of delivering dialogues. Evenramlilamustmove with the times,” said Prakash Chand Barathi, Secretary of Nav Shri Dharmik Leela Committee.
Another famous Ramlila, ‘Ayodhyakiramlila’organisedat Ayodhya’s Ram Katha Park, has alwayshadanarrayofparliamentariansandbollywoodstarsinits lead roles — this time, it only has thelatter. Prominentnamesfrom thefilmindustryarebhagyashree whoplaysvedmatiandpoonam Dhillonassabari. Theonlypoliticianwitharoleisbjp’sgorakhpur MP and Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan, whoplaysparashuram.
“Wehavechangedbecauseit isouraimthatalargenumberof youngpeoplewatchtheramlila, and see the love that brothers have for each other and the respectthatmasitareceived,” said Shubham Malik, general secretary of the Ramlila.