Ankit Chadha - Ramlila in Delhi

VARIETY:THE SPICE OF LILA

(A group from Singapore performing the
Kathakali version of Ramlila)

Usually, it is the bright half of the Ashvin month (culminating in Dussehra) which is referred to as the time of Ramlila. But, in a recreational observance like Ramlila, calendar unit shifts from the day to the year. The cycle of festivals expands as it incorporates specific events in the mythology of the cult of Lord Rama, thereby forming an annual lila cycle revolving around the places ( pilgrimages) where Lord Rama moved. For example, His birth is commemorated at Ayodhya on Ram Navami .

Similarly , the wedding of Lord Rama with Sita is celebrated on Vivaah Panchami in Mithila .This is a much more elaborated lila. Pilgrims to Janakpur (Nepal) form members of Ram’s baraat. During the month of November/December, the bride’s hometown is all set for the bash. However, the baraatis are on the receiving end of bashing. This is actually a ritual in which humorous insults are exchanged between the two parties.

(The stage prepared for the epic drama)

The tradition continues till date and is a part of the marriage ceremonies. Known as gaaliyaan in Bihar and sitthaniyaan in Punjab, these scurrilous songs create a lively atmosphere. I provide one example each from the two regions.

(Singkil (Bamboo dance) of philippines

Ramlila is more developed in the Hindi speaking areas of Northern India. Merchant groups brought it to Garhwal hills from the plains .Now, Pahari Hindus have taken it up. Similarly, the Hindus of Haryana and Rajasthan have adopted the institution.

In Punjab, Sangrur was a prominent centre of lila celebration. In the pre-partition undivided Punjab, villages such as Bhimbar near Lahore too performed the epic as a part of the annual festive season.

The Hindi speaking communities have transplanted it to the cities of Calcutta and Mumbai. Hmm.. I wonder how Raj Thackeray would react on that. While the Sena family is fond of policing the path of Hindu culture to be followed, it surely will find itself in a dilemma , when the choice will be between obliging a legendary tradition and losing the regional identity.

In Orissa, the Ramlila is celebrated in the bright half of Chaitra month, not Ashvin. Natural colours are used to paint the faces and masks are made use of .

However, these Ramlilas lack the status of an almost universally patronized and community-wide event as in Uttar Pradesh. It can be inferred that the popularity and patronage of Ramlila is co-extensive with that of the Manas. Strikingly, one can observe four different schools of Ramlila within U.P. These are as follows:-

1. pantomimic : predominance of tableaux pageants
                        i.e. jhaankis. Varanashi is its hotspot.

2. dialogue-based : the dialogues written during the
                             19th century translate the ras of
                              the text with multi-local staging.
                              Ramnagar represents this school.

3. Operatic : drawing musical elements from folk
                    operas of the region.

4. Stage : played by professional troupes such
               as those of Ayodhya.

Indians, at the beginning of the first millennium, traveled to Java and Suvarna islands. Hereby, they initiated the foundation of powerful kingdoms that came to rule south East Asia in the coming centuries. In the courts of Srivijaya Kingdom (7th - 12th century A.D.) and Majapahit kingdom (13th -16th century), tales of Ramayana were recounted in the performances.
(Ah! So now you know how a 'monkey God' pendant came to be the lucky charm of the democrat presidential candidate for the 2008 elections in USA. The 'coloured' American spent his childhood in these Indonesian islands).

I have attempted to simplify the description of spread of this cultural heritage across the seas through the photographs and table given below:

Did you notice something while going through the table ?

The theatrical technique used by half of the versions listed above is 'shadow-puppet'. There is a reason behind it. By the time Ramlila began taking roots in the countries concerned, their inhabitants had become the followers of Islam. Hence, the religious beliefs were bound to influence the localization of the epic.

Islamic religion was against the display of God in human form. That is why the shadow play came to the fore. To further suppress the worship of any deity, leather dolls were made to give the effect needed.

Coming back to Delhi, the capital boasts of the some of the most grand productions in India. Different committees come up with different attractions.
There are two streets in Delhi named after Ramlila - one in Mehrauli and the other in Shahdara Let me start with this unique Ramlila celebrated in Chipivada Dariba Kalan. It is held during the Pitrpaksh i.e. during the shraadha days. Dussehra is celebrated on the final kanaagat.
Ramlila Maidaan has, with time, moved more towards the mela affair. Its popularity has been on a decline.
Subhash Maidaan, on the other hand, maintains a balance. New lesser known episodes from the epic are added every year and the effigies command attention. But, it is the chaat bazaar that makes it more popular.

(Shadow theatre will the use of puppets)

Grandchildren of both Indira and Rajiv Gandhi prefer to go into the crowd and enjoy the delicacies, rather that having them at their service.
Lavkush Ramlila is renowed for inviting celebrities. It also hires troupes from outside Delhi such as the all-men team from Vrindavan.

Then, there are other committees that organize competitions such as Rangoli, debating, quiz, singing, athletics etc. Some are known for the fireworks. Keeping pravachan by star speakers is also catching on .

Although the grandeur of such productions might be attracting thousands of people, but the real significance of Ramlila for an average Delhiite is better suggested by hundreds of neighborhood productions played along by-lanes, pavements and in fallow fields.

Organised by various ethnic communities - Paharis, Biharis, Jats and Punjabis in their own localities, these efforts win hands down when compared to the productions that are laid back enough to import artists from Moradabad and Bareilly.

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