Ritika
Ramlila takes place on Holi in Bareilly
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
Ramlila is staged in different parts of the country in the month of Ashwin, but the Ramlila which is held in Bareilly in Falgun is unique. This Ramlila, which has a history of 163 years, is famous all over the world. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2015. Based on the Vinay Patrika written by Goswami Tulsidas, it starts from Phalgun Shukla Paksha Navami and ends on Chaitra Krishna Paksha Trayodashi.
Organized by Shri Ramlila Sabha Brahmapuri, this Ramlila started in 1861 during the British rule. Since then this tradition is going on continuously. Various episodes of this Ramlila are staged in different mohallas. Leela related to Agastya Muni is staged at Agastya Muni Ashram located in Chhoti Bamanpuri, Ram-Kevat dialogue at Sahukara, Meghnad Yagya at Bamanpuri and Lanka Dahan at Malukpur Square.
Regional people play the role of characters
President of Ramlila Sabha Sarvesh Rastogi said that the United Nations organization UNESCO has declared this Ramlila as a world heritage for the purpose of keeping it safe and protected. According to Vishal Mehrotra, vice-president of the organization, in the initial days only regional people used to play the role of different characters in Ramlila. Now the troupe of Ayodhya stages it. General Secretary Raju Mishra told that this time this Ramlila is starting from February 28 and will be completed on March 19 with Shri Ram’s coronation. Meanwhile, Ram Baraat will be taken out on March 7.
