Autoplay Next video from Max length

This is how Ramlila celebrations have changed in Chandigarh

2,438 views · Published 18 October 2018 · 1:19 · Indexed 2 October 2026

Channel: ThePrint · 2018 · News & Politics

#ThePrint

Time honoured conventions mark the plethora of Ramlila shows that dot Chandigarh city. And yet, while traditional forms of Ramlila play out, there are two big changes: The number of Ramlila shows across tri-city (Chandigarh and neighbouring Panchkula and Mohali) has increased from 20 something a few years ago to almost a hundred this year. Each show is filled to capacity on most days and the crowds increase steadily during the last three days of the ten-day event.

The revival of the Ramlila—the dramatic enactment of the Ramayana on stage—as a extended celebration of Navratras leading to Dusshera, has forced organizers to offer something bigger and better. Fancier stages, better costumes, special effects and VIPs making a guest entry mark the modern day Ram Lila. But everything that is changed or experimented with has to remain within the limits imposed by the maryada of the Ramlila, a strict code of conduct that comes into place the minute the curtains are raised on stage on day one.

But unlike metro cities like New Delhi, in Chandigarh, Ramlila shows attract only the lower and middle class audience, small kids dragging their young parents, and older parents dragging their college going children to these shows.


SUBSCRIBE to ThePrint : http://bit.ly/SubscribeToThePrint

LIKE ThePrint on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/theprintindia/

Follow ThePrint on Twitter : https://twitter.com/theprintindia

Follow ThePrint on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/theprintindia/

This is how Ramlila celebrations have changed in Chandigarh

More from this channel