Ramlila festivities unite 4.5K Chandigarh artistes; being held at 76 venues

The beginning of the Navratri festival has seen committees organising Ramlilas, bringing together nearly 4,500 artistes from across the city.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Nishant Kumar Yadav said this year, Ramlila was being organised at 76 different venues. A single window system was also introduced for first-time permissions, which were granted within seven days.

Ramlilas are being staged in Sectors 15, 17, 20, 27, 28, 30, 45, 46 among other places. Seating arrangements have been made at all the venues, but Sectors 17, 27 and 46 have been drawing the maximum crowd.

Sector 20 Dussehra Committee vice-president Ashok Chaudhary and other members of the committee, including Kuldeep, Lalit Grover, Suresh Sharma and Luv Sharma, said a waterfall was being built on fibre sheet at the Ramlila site. A natural waterfall will be shown flowing during the scenes of Panchavati, Ashok Vatika and Hanuman forest. Chaudhary said they have been organising Ramlila for the past nearly 60 years.

Manoj, who played various roles in the Ramlila at Sector 15 since he was seven, said he was the second generation of artists from his family to have essayed the roles of Ram, Laxman, Parshuram, Angad and others. He said his late father worked in Ramlila for nearly 25-30 years.

“This year, two brothers were playing opposite roles. Ajay was playing the role of demon king Ravana while his brother Karan was playing the role of Lord Rama,” he added.

The Sector 17 Ramlila, one of the city’s oldest, has given a modern look to the stage by adding a new sound system. The Parade Ground, Sector 17, Ramlila has been held since 1953.

A member of the Central Ramlila Mahasabha said events have already commenced at a few venues, while others will begin September from 23 or 24. The festivities will culminate in the grand Dussehra celebrations on October 2.

Members of the Garhwal Ramlila said they had included 15-20 new scenes such as Atsamman, Shaddarth, Kaikai Antardvandva, the construction of Ram Setu etc.

The event at the Shri Ramlila Committee Parade Ground in Sector 17 will begin on September 24. Scenes will also be shown on the LED wall Three stages are being built to ensure Ramlila is completed here within eight days.