TRINIDAD/TOBAGO, July 27, 2024 (Trinidad Express): A Barrackpore-based Ramleela group is set to take the sacred play to the national stage for the second time. The Satya Drishti Ramleela will host a theatrical excerpt from the Hindu text the Ramayan on August 4 at the Naparima Bowl in San Fernando. The group, which has performed Ramleela for nearly 20 years at the community level, first hosted the portrayal on the national stage at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA) in August 2023. The annual ten-day play is seasonally performed across the country near the Divali period and chronicles the life of Prince Ram who triumphs over the wicked king Ravan. But while the production may appear to be just a play, the participants of the Satya Drishti Ramleela consider it as an act of worship and a tool to instill values.

Sunil Ramdass, 44, who plays the role of Parshuram in the production, says Ramleela can offer the national community valuable lessons. “Through the Ramleela, we use a thematic approach to teach certain lessons. One of the most important lessons is how to control your emotions. There are many parts in the production where characters use their emotions to respond to a situation, and through guidance, they are taught to see another angle of the situation,” he explained. Ramdass added that Ramleela allowed the youth “a chance to express themselves, build new skills, and use the arts to learn our culture. It also gives the national public an opportunity to better understand our way of life, our religion, our culture, and enjoy family entertainment with wisdom and teaching attached to it. It gives people the opportunity to use their time, develop their skills, and to keep away from idle behavior that might result in wayward and criminal activity.”

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https://trinidadexpress.com/features/local/living-ramleela/article_e10d7c26-4c86-11ef-8586-fb36d7d86727.html

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