Team News Riveting
Post-Bhoomi Pujan ceremony in Ayodhya on August 5, the changing ambiance of the temple town had turned more into a celebration of its icon — Lord Rama.
This year’s Ram Leela during the upcoming ‘Sharadiya Navratri’ in the temple town was going to be special and grander with a majestic touch of Bollywood. But the COVID-19 played spoilsport as the local administration refused permission to organise Ram Leela in the city.
The permission to stage Ram Leela in the city was sought by the ‘Ayodhya Shodh Sansthan’, the government department that organises the performance. But it was denied by the government, said Ayodhya Shodh Sansthan manager Ram Teerath.
Teerath said the Department had sought permission to hold Ram Leela in the open within the Ayodhya museum premises.
“Over 300 Ram Leela artists have been facing difficulties in earning their livelihood for the last seven months as, after the suspension of the Ram Leela, the government did not issue payments to them. Ram Lila artist,” he said.
The city where Lord Rama was born hosts a number of such events. While it is high time for the artists to start rehearsal, they are engaged in their business.
Sangeeta, who plays the role of Sita, is back in the beauty parlour where she has been working. While Laxman is engaged in the gymnasium, “Rama” is busy in his grocery shop.
The artists say it is better to avoid the play amidst pandemic protocols. While there will be strict restrictions at every point, every artist will have to perform maintaining social distancing.
The epic battle between good and evil amid the pandemic will be contact-free and unfold between socially-distanced, face-masked Lord Rama and Demon King Ravana— each armed with sanitised weaponry and minimal warriors from their mythical armies.
And finally, Ravana has to make a contact-free abduction of Sita.
