Live performances of Lord Shri Ram’s stories filled the audience with deep emotions
Artists from Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh showcase Lord Shri Ram’s stories in the distinctive styles of their respective regions
Raipur, 3 June 2023
The Ramayana Mandali from Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh enthralled the audience with soulful performances on the Aranya Kand of the epic Ramayana. The competition was held today at the Ramleela Maidan in Raigarh on the third day of the National Ramayana Festival. Each Ramayana Mandali performed a musical drama depicting Lord Shri Ram’s stories in the traditional costumes of their region and their own distinctive style, showcasing heart-touching performances.
The Ramayana Mandali from Kerala captivated the audience with a mesmerizing performance based on Lord Shri Ram’s stories in traditional folk costumes. They showcased a soulful performance, depicting events ranging from the Surpanakha episode to the slaying of Ravana, accompanied by captivating background music. Adorned in vibrant traditional costumes, the artists beautifully showcased the glory of Lord Shri Ram in the Kerala style, blending devotion and emotion. The eye-catching colorful attire of the group members, along with the classical dance style of Kathakali, added an overall charm to their performances.
The Ramayana Mandali from Uttar Pradesh showcased emotional performances on the Aranya Kand, where each character spoke their own dialogues, accompanied by background music. The influence of Chhattisgarh’s Ram Leela was evident in their performance. The exquisite rendition of the Ramayana by West Bengal was originally based on Kritivas’ version of the Ramayana. Kritivas’ imagination, in addition to Valmiki’s original text, added remarkable depth to the staging of the Ramayana. Kritivas beautifully portrayed the tender aspects of Lord Shri Ram, emphasizing his emotional nature. The tragic episodes, such as Sita Haran in Aranya Kand, were portrayed with palpable emotion in this poignant story, narrated in the melodious Bengali language. This highlights the remarkable cultural unity of India, as the spirit of creation remains the same from Kritivas in Bengal to Kamban in Tamil Nadu.
The Ramayana Mandali from Bacheli, a remote region in the Dantewada district, won the admiration of devotees with their captivating performance. The chanting of ‘stuti’ at the beginning was carried out by this female group. They showcased a clear depiction of women’s empowerment through their performance. The dance performance by the women artists was truly remarkable, leaving the audience in awe.
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