JOIN US'Sita' too must change in tune with times
Ramlila is a common part of traditional ‘Navaraatra’ ffestival in Uttar Pradesh. In one such event in Agra, where ‘Sita’ not only got decorated with mehendi but also engaged in chats with ‘Rama’ and his brothes. The event showed a crowd waiting at her ‘father King Janaka’s palace’ for her to turn up there for the same ritual. The odd turn of events, getting more frequent in recent years, perplexed many old timers gathered to watch the Ramlila perrformace.
Breaking another new ground, ‘Sita’ was also seen with Lord Rama at the stage while devotional songs were being played similar to what one finds at the modern Hindu weddings.
“We have been witnessing the Ramlilia for past over two decades… it is for the first time we found Sitaji visiting her in-law’s house even before her marriage’,’ quipped an old couple.
“The urge to look modern has affected Ramlila also… the old traditions are being broken without realising the consequences,’ they said. Sanctity of the religious programmes must be maintained at all cost, they felt.
However, Bollywood numbers are replacing devotional songs. At some Ramlila performances, especially in the rural areas, the audience may easily find bar girls gyrating to popular film songs, even as ‘Lord Rama’ and ‘Sita’ look on.
While the organisers attribute these changes to an attempt to bring in the crowd, many in the audience find the practice distasteful.