Russian art, Java puppetry and Thai touch in Ayodhya Ramlila | Lucknow News
Lucknow: The ninth edition of Deepotsav in Ayodhya will feature Ramlila performance by 90 artists from Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal and Sri Lanka, alongside lighting of millions of diyas across 56 ghats and temples from Oct 17 to 20. The show will be coordinated by Ayodhya International Ramayana and Vedic Research Institute. Sharing details, Vedic Research Institute advisor and special officer Ashutosh Dwivedi said, “The initiative aims to uphold Ramlila tradition while presenting it through diverse cultural expressions.”As many as 15 Russian artists will stage Swayamvara of Ram and Sita, combining Indian mythological themes with Russian stagecraft. Meanwhile, a troupe of 10 performers from Thailand will depict key scenes such as Shurpanakha’s encounter with Ram and final battle between Ram and Ravan, using traditional Thai dance-theatre.A group from Indonesia will present burning down of Lanka and Ram’s return to Ayodhya. Their performance draws from the Javanese shadow puppet tradition and Balinese choreography. The group from Nepal, comprising 33 artists, will focus on Laksman’s role in Ramayan, offering a perspective rooted in Nepal’s cultural interpretation of the epic.The group from Sri Lanka will stage ‘Ravaneshwara’, a narrative that explores Ravan’s role and his veneration in certain Lankan traditions. “This international Ramlila is part of a larger effort to position Ayodhya as a global centre for religious and cultural tourism,” said Dwivedi.
