The universal theme of the victory of good over evil has made the epic Ramayana popular across the globe. It was evident in Ayodhya when 120 artistes from eight countries performed the epic in a dance-ballet form at the sixth edition of Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya yesterday.
Leading the performance of Ramayana by foreign artists is Disha: Moscow-based India-Russia Friendship Society and Ramlila Memorial of Padma Shri Gennady Mikhailovich Pechnikov. The performance of the 12-member Russian troupe captivated the audience.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest at the Ram Leela celebrations in Ayodhya today and the Russian band’s performance is part of it. The Prime Minister will perform pooja and other rituals of deity Ram Lalla Virajman and will also visit the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra site where the Ram Janmabhoomi temple is being constructed.
This Russian team Ram Leela which has been performing for several years is one of its kind in Europe. The group performed for the first time in Ayodhya from 4 to 6 November 2018 during the Deepotsav celebrations. They also performed at Prayagraj during Kumbh in 2019.
The producer and director of the show, who is also the Convenor of Disha, informed that the Yogi Adityanath government had provided them a platform in India to present the Russian Ramlila. Speaking to The Hindu he said: “This year the visit is more special as we are returning to Ayodhya after the pandemic and as we want to emphasize the close friendship between the two sides amid the special military operation that Russia is conducting in Ukraine. .
Sharing details about the production, its co-director Aleksandra Koneva said that the play will include the fight between Lord Ram and Ravan; the reunion of Lord Ram and Sita; his return to Ayodhya; swayamvar of Sita; Kaikeyi asking for her three wishes; the exile of Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshman; Ravana kidnaps Sita; and Lord Hanuman in Lanka besides other episodes.
The lead roles of Lord Ram and Sita are being essayed by Ildar Khusnullin and Milana Bychonek respectively. Other artists include Nadezda Singh as Kaushalya; Rati Kosinova as Sumitra; Gulnara Isakova as Kaikeyi; Alexei Fleyjanikav as Lakshman; and Vaychislav Chernyash as Ravan.
Lord Hanuman will be executed by Kushnerova, while Sugreev by Artem Zubkov and King Dashrath by Danish Shevtsov.
Apart from Russia, artists from Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago, Nepal and Fiji are performing Ram Leela in Ayodhya.
Started in 2017, Deepotsav encourages foreign performers to stage the Ramayana.
