Almora. The cultural city of Almora witnessed the grand inauguration of Kumaon’s oldest and most historic Ramlila, organized by the Shri Nanda Devi Ramlila Committee. On the first day, audiences enjoyed captivating performances depicting Ravana’s tyranny, prayers of the deities, the birth of Lord Ram, and the birth of Goddess Sita.
The inaugural ceremony was conducted by Dr. Shekhar Joshi, Head of the Arts Faculty at Soban Singh Jeena University, former municipal councilor Jeevan Nath Verma, and senior theater artist & Dussehra Mahotsav Committee patron Deep Lal Sah, who jointly lit the ceremonial lamp. The event commenced with Ram Stuti followed by a devotional Bhajan Sandhya presented by Vihan Cultural Art Group.
Before the main Ramlila performance, children staged a Saraswati Vandana. The role of Goddess Saraswati was played by Jivika, while Harshita Pandey, Anjali Thapa, Kanishka Pandey, Srishti Upreti, and Komal Kandpal performed as supporting characters.
On this occasion, Committee President and Lala Bazar Ward Councilor Kuldeep Singh Mer, along with directors Mohan Joshi and Rajkumar Bisht, presented Ram Prasadi to the guests. The event was conducted by Committee Secretary and Nanda Devi Ward Councilor Arjun Singh Bisht.
Musical Accompaniment: Harmonium – Mohan Joshi, Tabla – Shekhar Sijwali.
Key Roles:
Ravana – Hari Vinod Sah
Deities – Rajendra Routela, Dron Negi, Aviral Joshi, Daya Krishna Pargai, Sandesh Negi
Brahma – Himanshu Pargai
Ravana’s Messenger – Prakash Joshi
Sage – Siddharth Sah
King Dasharath – Dron Negi
King Janak – Aviral Joshi
Child Ram – Tavisha Sah
Child Sita – Kanishka Pandey
Make-up: Danish and Raju Sharma
Stage Rituals: Performed by Nanda Devi Temple’s chief priest Tara Dutt Joshi
Live Streaming: Naman Bisht
Prominent attendees included Nanda Devi Temple Committee President Manoj Verma, Vice-President & Almora Congress President Tara Chandra Joshi, Coordinator Prakash Pandey, Anil Sanwal, Harish Bisht, Atul Verma, Sandeep Sah, Deepak Verma, Mahendra Bisht, Rajkumar Bisht, Rajesh Palni, Jagdish Bisht, Ganesh Mer, Amarnath Singh Negi, Kavish Arora, Dhananjay Sah, Amit Upreti, Chandramohan Pargai, Sanjay Sah, Paritosh Joshi, Jagdish Bhandari, Shashi Mohan Pandey, Lokesh Tiwari, Golu Bhatt, Ayush Verma, Chitrank Sah, Manavendra Sah, Varun Sah, Sumit Sah, Parikshit Sah, Girish Pargai along with many devotees and dignitaries.
