Oral Tradition and Performative World of Ramlila in Odisha
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Date
2015
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Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya
Abstract
Ramlila is an age old oral tradition of India. It is a dramatic representation of deeds of lord
Rama in the form of plays and procession. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proclaimed that the tradition of Ramlila is a masterpiece
of oral and intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2005. In Ramlila, the basic essence
of the story remains the same, but the manner in which it is being performed may vary from
place to place. Each style has its own idiosyncratic features developed over a period of time
by the impact of various factors like, migration, local culture, religious belief, geographical
conditions, flora-fauna, etc. During Shardiya Navaratri (September- October) the streets of
north Indian cities transformed into a dramatic stage. But in Odisha, Ramlila is being played
in the month of Chaitra (March- April). Present paper would give an ethnographic account
of Ramlila in Odisha. Boudh, Puri and Daspalla Ramlilas would be discussed in the present
paper. These are the representative Ramlila style of Odisha. It is observed with religious
fervour and; with great pomp and show for eight to thirty days at different temples – streets.
It is called Sri Kshetra yatra or Sahi Jatra in Puri, Mahavir Khetra in Daspalla and Ramlila
Naatya in Boudh. One can feel religiosity and the experience of the divine in the performative
world of Ramlila tradition.
Every Ramlila style differs from one another in execution, staging, costume, make-up, acting
style and to see community participation would be important in the multicultural society
of Odisha. Although there are some broad similarities in all styles of Ramlila being played
in Odisha.
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Keywords
Ramlila, Oral Tradition, Navaratri, Sri Kshetra yatra, community participation
Citation
Singh, Neetu 2015. Oral Tradition and Performative World of Ramlila in Odisha. 3rd Biennial Conference of the International Association for Asian Heritage, 27th - 28th December 2015, Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya & International Association for Asian Heritage (IAAH). p. 57.