| RAM LILA |
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| Celebrated In
:
Badrinath - Kedarnath Temples. |
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| Enactment of :
The Battle Between Lord
Rama and Ravana. |
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| Duration :
7 to 31 days |
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| In the month
of :
September - October |
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| Ramlila, the enactment of the story of Lord
Rama is believed to have been started by great saint Tulsidas. The
Ramcharitmanas, written by him, till today forms the basis of Ramlila
performances. In some places, Ramlila is associated with the Vijayadashmi
celebrations, in late September and early October and also with Ramanavami, the
birthday of Lord Rama. |
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| Ramlila, basically an enactment of a myth, is
presented as a cycle-play with the story varying from 7 to 31 days. The Ram
Lila peformance evokes a festive atmosphere and enables observance of religious
rites. It also rich in performance crafts such as costume jewellery, masks,
headgear, make-up and decoration. |
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| The main Ramlila styles are the pantomimic
style with a predominance of 'jhankis' - tableaux pageants; the dialogue -based
style with multi - local staging; the operatic style with draws its musical
elements from the flok operas of the region and the stage Ramlila of the
professionals troupes called "mandalis".
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CHITRAKOOT RAMLILA
Celebrated for five days every year in the last week of February at
Chitrakoot, beginning from the Maha Shivratri day. It is
believed that during the Bharat-Milap, and important lila, Ram himself
manifests in the person playing Rama. Thousands of people watch this enactment
with tears of joy.
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VARANASI RAM LILA
The Ramlila festival (October-November) is celebrated with great fervour at
Varanasi. Jhankis and pageants depicting scenes from the
life of lord Rama are taken out. Some of the episodes of the Varanasi Ram Lila
are witnessed with great interest.
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RAMNAGAR RAMLILA
Ramnagar, 15 km. from Varanasi presents the Ramlila started by the erstwhile
Maharaja of Kashi in the most traditional style. The performances lasting for
31 days are marked by detailed dialogues and impressive enactments. Hundreds of
sadhus called 'ramayanis' come to Ramanagar to watch and recite the epic.
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| Permanent structures are built and spaces
designated to represent the main locales of the story i.e. Ashok Vatika,
Janakpuri, Panchvati, Lanka etc., transforming the whole township into a vast
Ramlila ground. The audience moves along with the performers with every episode
to the next locale. To maintain the austere character of the Ramila, electric
lights, mikes and loudspeakers are not used, though the average audience is
rarely less than ten thousand.
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ALLAHABAD DUSSEHRA
Allahabad Dussehra
is marked with the unique procession of beautifully decorted "chowkis"
accompained by Ramdals every evening, that are taken out from different
localities, from four days preceding Dussehra. |
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RAMLILA AT AYODHYA
Ayodhya is popular
for mandali Ramlilas. The performance is dialogue, based and presented on a
platform stage, high standard of performance is complemented by songs and
kathak dances and eyecatching décor. |
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KUMAONI RAMLILA
The festival of Dussehra is celebrated with great pomp and show all over
Kumaon. Various Ramilas are enacted depicting the story of lord Rama's victory
over the demon king, Ravana. The Almora Dussehra
procession is unique with huge effigies of gods, heroes and demons paraded
through the streets. |
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