Rehearsals for Nashik's Ram Leela in final phase

NASHIK: The 'Ram Leela', presented by local artistes of Nashik at Gandhi Nagar ground for the last six decades is in the final phase of rehearsals. The play, which has become an integral part of the Navaratri celebrations in the city will be staged on October 1.
"Ram Leela is popularly organised during Navaratra in North India. It was started in Nashik in 1955 by the North Indian Pandits.Since then, Nashik has uninterruptedly hosted the event every year. We have third and fourth generations of artistes working in Ram Leela," secretary of Ram Leela Utsav Mandal Kapildev Sharma said.
For many Nashikites, the presentation at Gandhi Nagar ground is like an annual family ritual. "Many of them meet only once a year on this occasion, work together in Ram Leela and pay tributes to the sixty-year-old tradition," president of the Ram Leela Committee Anandkumar Saxena said.
The script of Ram Leela was specially drafted by Surendra Singh Bist and Devilal Sharma in the 1950s. Several members, who are in their nineties now, recall that the duo used simplified Hindi to make it easy for the Mararthi audience here to understand. The songs composed by Brahmadev Kunthe and Krishna Jawade, are still being used by the artistes.
Neither of the artistes performing in the Ram Leela charge any fees. "The artistes work to maintain the tradition. This city has a long legacy of Lord Rama. We want to carry it forward through our art," an event organiser Sanjay Lodage said.
Nashik has a special connection with Ramayana as several turning points are said to have taken place in and around the city. So, the organisers try to portray events like 'Shurpanakha Tyaag' and 'Sita Haran' with a special reference to Nashik.
The special factor about the presentation though is the number of people from all religious backgrounds who participate. "Shareef Sheikh used to play Lord Parshurama, Francis Bosch has played Ravana for many years, Daniel Waugh used to play 'Khar' (Ravana's brother). The list is very long. This year, we have many Muslim and Christian youths playing important characters. For us, they are all artistes and Nashikites," Lodage said.
In the last 45 years, the fire works on the last day are arranged by Zamir Fire Works from Sangamner, a firm run by a Muslim family. This year, a huge effigy of Ravana is under construction, which will be burnt on Dussehra, to mark the conclusion of Ram Leela.
From last six decades, the 'Ram Leela' presented by the local artists of Nashik at Gandhi Nagar ground has become the integral part of the Navaratri celebrations of the city. Nashikites from all religions, classes, creeds and age groups participate in this mega event which gives the message of National integrity. Ram Leela rehearsals are in final phase as the presentation will start from October 1.