Ramlilas on the wane in Moradabad

Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh), Oct.2 : There was a time when Ramlilas, the street plays on Lord Rama's life, were a major draw for families ahead of Dussehra festival in Uttar Pradesh. But today the modern life appears to have overshadowed its decades old charm here.

Many organizers attribute this downward trend to the steep hike in the cost of various inputs in staging the shows. Besides, the public at large hardly have time for such functions due to availability of so many programmes on TV and movies at home.

"We have tried to gear up ourselves to the growing demand of being more technically sound, but it's very tough to maintain all these because the modern technological have become very expensive. There is a growing competition and less number of viewers. Because of these reasons we are having tough time to sustain our artistic stage plays," said Tulsi Das Yadav, Director of a Ramalila drama troupe.

Ramalila plays staged for community viewing at open public places shows how Lord Rama lived a life full of struggle.

However, what used to be quite a popular event in the past has now become a sort of white elephant and the organisers find it difficult to break-even.

"Our whole family is involved in this play, be it my mother, father or brother. All of us are taking part in this play. Reason for this lies in the increase in cost of everything. As a result, we are not in a state of staging the play as per the expectations of the audience. Nonetheless, all of us are striving somehow to carry forward our legacy," said Megha Yadav, an artiste.

Similar to this artistic Yadav family, there are many troupes, which have been discouraged from organizing Ramlila.

Many feel that there is lack of interest among the masses to celebrate the events related to epics. By Vibhav Porov

ANI