Ramlila breaks community barriers

VADODARA: The recent communal clashes in the Walled City led to tensions between two communities, but the Ramlila play that will be staged at Polo Ground on Friday showed that the spirit of communal harmony is still alive in the city.
Many members of the Muslim community have been working overtime to ensure the success of grand Ramlila play and Ravan Dahan that attracts over one lakh audience every year.
Right from the artists who prepare the huge effigies of Ravana, Meghnaad and Kumbhkarna to the people erecting dais and arranging for logistics, Muslim community members are involved in organizing the entire event. Very few from the audiences know that the role of Laxman, too, is played by a Muslim.
"We have been arranging for logistics of Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programme over last 35 years. We work round the clock for days ahead of the Ramlila play to ensure that the artists and audience doesn't face any difficulties. Be it Hindus or Muslims, we all work in harmony," said Lalabhai Shyamwala, who erects the stage for Ramlila play and provides other logistical support.
A Muslim family from Uttar Pradesh specially travels to Vadodara for making effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghnaad ahead of Dussehra. The family has been in business of making the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghnaad for last three decades. Sharafat Ali said that he loves preparing creative effigies of Ravana and religion doesn't matter to him.
When Abid Mushtaq Sheikh plays the role of Laxman, Lord Ram's younger brother, people clap and cheer for his performance. Abid has been playing the role of Laxman for last eight years. "I used to play the role of Laxman at a small Ramlila play in Akota when I was a child. Later I got to perform in bigger events. I have played the role of Laxman at several Ramlila plays," Abid said.
"The Ramlila we organize is the perfect symbol of communal harmony in Vadodara. The city may have seen communal tension some days ago but that hasn't affected our spirit," said Amit Bhatnagar, president, North India Cultural Association (NICA) that organizes Ramlila in the city every year.
The organizers have erected two stages and two huge screens at Polo Ground apart from Kailash Parvat.