Almora. The Ramleela Mahotsav at Shri Lakshmi Bhandar Hookah Club continued on its fifth day with full devotion and support from the audience. The day’s chief guests included former Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Raghunath Singh Chauhan, former District President Ravi Rautela, former BJP State Youth Morcha President Kundan Latwal, Dr. Laxman Singh Suthar, Trilochan Joshi, Dinesh Mathpal, Minister’s representative Jagdish Nagarkoti, and Manoj Latwal.
The episode began with the scene of Sage Sutikshna awaiting Lord Ram, Sita, and Lakshman at Panchavati, where arrangements for their stay were made.
This was followed by the entry of Ravana’s sister Shurpanakha, who, enamored by Lord Ram, proposed marriage to him. When Lord Ram directed her to Lakshman, and Lakshman humbly refused by calling himself a servant, Shurpanakha angrily attempted to attack Sita. At Ram’s signal, Lakshman cut off her nose.
Humiliated, Shurpanakha approached first Trishira, and later her brothers Khara and Dushana, who, burning with revenge, came to battle Ram. A fierce fight ensued in which Lord Ram slew Trishira, Khara, and Dushana. As the demons fell, the gods showered flowers from the heavens, and the entire ground echoed with chants of “Jai Shri Ram.”
After the fall of Khara and Dushana, Shurpanakha, crying in agony with her severed nose and ears, reached Lanka to narrate the incident to her brother Ravana. She provoked Ravana to take revenge against Ram and Lakshman, describing the entire episode in detail.
Enraged, Ravana devised a plan to abduct Sita. He ordered his uncle Maricha to disguise himself as a golden deer and lure Sita. Upon seeing the magical deer, Sita was enchanted and requested Ram to capture it. Ram pursued the deer deep into the forest. When struck by Ram’s arrow, Maricha, before dying, cried out in Ram’s voice, “Ha Lakshman! Ha Sita!” Hearing this deceitful cry, Sita grew anxious and compelled Lakshman to rush to Ram’s aid. In this moment of separation, Ravana, disguised as a sage, arrived at the hut and abducted Sita.
The enactment featured Priyanka Bhatt as Ram, Gayatri Tiwari as Lakshman, Varsha Tripathi as Sita, Manoj Sah as Ravana, Shagun Tyagi as Maricha and Shurpanakha, Harshita Tiwari, Riya, and Vaishali Vani in supporting roles. Himanshu Kandpal played Khara, Jagat Mohan Joshi as Dushana, and Rohit Sah as Trishira. Their performances left a lasting impression on the audience.
The make-up was handled by Tribhuvan Giri, Harshvardhan Verma, Meenakshi Agrawal, and Meenakshi Joshi. The entire Ramleela was beautifully coordinated by former councilor Rajendra Tiwari, who narrated the episodes through verses of the Ramcharitmanas.
Among the prominent attendees were Dharanidhar Pandey, Vineet Bisht, Harendra Verma, Chandrashekhar Kandpal, Vijay Chauhan, Diwan Bisht, Ajay Chauhan, Rohit Sah, Tribhuvan Giri Maharaj, Lalit Mohan Sah, Manoj Sah, Bhatt Abhay Shah, Vinod Giri, Goswami Narayan Singh Bisht, Raja Pandey, Sumit Shah, Diksha Sah, Subodh Nayal, Pooja Thapa, Akanksha Arya, Meenakshi Agrawal, Meenakshi Joshi, Champi Joshi, Ajay Sah, Sanjay Sah, Sundar Janoti, Kamal Verma, Ankit Kumar, Harshvardhan Verma, Yash Sah, Abhay Upreti, Kanchan Bisht, Amit Sah, Neelam Bhatt, Harshit Joshi, Manas Vani, Ankit Bora, Mamta Vani, Gaurav Tiwari, Harshita Tiwari, Shagun Tyagi, Sakshi Joshi, Palak Tiwari, and many others.
The fifth day of the Ramleela Mahotsav not only showcased devotion and spirituality but also enthralled the audience with remarkable performances, keeping alive the tradition of Ramleela in Almora.
