Hanuman made of bells rings in larger-than-life Ramlilas

NEW Delhi: If the nip in the evening air in autumn presages the advent of Ramlila festivities, then the calendar flipping to October 1 on Saturday will herald an 11-day marathon of larger-than-life depictions from the Ramayana. The enactment of the mythological tales, fading out in other parts of the country, seems only to get more innovative by the year in the capital.
This year, the Shree Dharmik Leela Committee — renowned for hosting the President, vice-president and the prime minister on the lawns of Red Fort on Dussehra year after year — will literally seek to top the regular extravaganza spanning 93 years with a 20-foot installation of Hanuman. The towering art work will be made of 26,000 interconnected brass bells. “The moment one touches the charan paduka (feet) of Hanumanji, all the bells will ring in unison,” explained Pradeep Sharan, secretary of the committee.
This may not be traditional as Ramlilas go, but the Red Fort spectacle is sure to attract huge crowds. “We are among the oldest organisers of the Ramlila in Delhi,” said Ravi Jain, as if that fact needed endorsement. “Our actors come from the traditional mandalis of Moradabad and Bareilly.” They will perform on the three-tiered stage designed to represent pataal lok, dharti lok and Yam lok.
Ramlilas, of course, are not just religious discourses, rather total family entertainment, complete with amusement parts and food courts. If the Shree DharmikCommittee gets the best of Old Delhi chefs to peddle food at its ground, then the neighbouring Luv-Kush Ramlila Organising Committee provides the adrenaline boost by having popular Bollywood and television artistes striding the stage.
“Earlier our troupes too came from Moradabad and filmstars only came as chief guests to wave at crowds. But now they give time, rehearse and act out their roles with dedication,” boasted Ashok Kumar, whose committee has roped in 55 movie and TV actors this year. Among them are Film Television Institute of India chairman Gajendra Chauhan, who will regale crowds with his Ravana act, and Gurleen Chopra in the role of Sita. In the extensive list are familiar names such as Asrani, Shakti Kapoor, Raza Murad, Anoop Jalota and Manoj Tiwari. “In the same spirit, we will have Ajay Devgan as our chief guest on October 11,” revealed Kumar.
While Luv-Kush features a constellation of actors, the Nav Shri Dharmik Leela Committee, also known as the Gandhi Maidan Committee for the venue of its pageant, focuses on technology to attract GenNext. “With the help of hi-tech equipment, sound systems, LED screens and hydraulic lifts, we aim to leave an imprint on the audience,” enthused Hari Chandra Agarwal, member of the committee.
To meet the expectations of their modern clientele, the organisers at Gandhi Maidan have arranged for live transmission of the Ramlila through periscopes. “Each day will have a special attraction,” said Agarwal. “For example, the fight between Ravana and Jatayu will be fought in the air. The Sita swayamvar will feature a hydraulic stage, while we will show Hanuman flying in the air while fetching the Sanjeevani herb.”
As the props get their finishing touches on the eve of performances, the organisers are aware of their social responsibilities too: they will use their platforms to spread awareness about dengue and chikungunya, perhaps in the belief that the cosmic fight between good and evil should trigger the obliteration of earthly evil too.