In a historic first, girls to perform in lead roles in the 135 years old Bageshwar Ramlila
Prem Prakash Upadhyay “Natural”
Bageshwar, Sept 24
In a historic move, the 135-year-old Ramlila of Bageshwar will see girls performing the lead roles for the first time. This iconic Ramlila, staged every year at the Numaishkhet ground since the British era, is known for its unique presentation in the traditional Kumaoni singing style.
Bageshwar also known as ‘Kashi’ of North since ancient times, has the distinction of start of famous “anti-Coolie beggar’ movement against the Britishers. Now the women of the district have taken a lead in performing at the famous historic Ramlila.
Although there is no written record when the Ramlila first started in Bageshwar. But the elders of the Ramlila Committee believe that it dates back to around 1890. Former committee president Kanchan Sah recalls that organized performances have been taking place since 1948. Between 1927 and 1948, the Ramlila could not be staged due to unavoidable reasons. The tradition was revived in 1949 at Chowk Bazaar before shifting permanently to the Numaishkhet ground the following year, where it continues to this day.
Until last year, girls were only allowed to participate in the chorus singing. But this year marks a groundbreaking change, with several key characters being portrayed by young female performers. The rehearsals are already underway at the Ramlila Bhavan, with day time training sessions replacing the usual night practices to accommodate new women participants.
Anjali Dafouti will play the role of Lord Ram while Diya Bhandari will act as Sita. Geetanjali Sah and Angel would be acting as Lakshman and Bharat, the younger brothers of Lord Rama, respectively. Manvi will perform as Shatrughan. will perform first time in the history of Ramlila of Bageshwar.
Apart from leading roles, girls will also take part in supporting roles and chorus performances. Director Deep Sah is personally training the young actors in dialogue delivery and stagecraft. For all these girls, this will be their debut performance in the Ramlila, and they have expressed immense excitement about becoming part of this historic initiative.
The Bageshwar Ramlila remains a cherished cultural event, blending devotion and art, and this year’s decision to cast girls in lead roles marks a significant step toward inclusivity while preserving a 135-year-old tradition.
Navin Shah, a local merchant and a member of Ramlila committee expressed hope and enthusiasm with new experiment by taking girls in lead roles. This is also getting a popularity in the city. The participation off girls in Ramlila is another example of women empowerment in the hills off Kumoan region.
