Lucknow: The ongoing Ramlila organised by the Shri Ramlila Samiti in Mahanagar captivated audiences with compelling performances of key episodes from the Ramayana, including Ahilya’s redemption, Sita’s worship of Goddess Gauri, the Dhanush Yagya, the Lakshman-Parashuram dialogue and the Kaikeyi-Manthara episode.
The performance depicted Sita’s visit to the flower garden, where she catches a glimpse of Lord Ram and later prays to Goddess Gauri for a husband like him. The blessing bestowed upon her, expressed through the devotional verse “Sun Siya Satya Aashish Hamari”, added an emotional dimension to the presentation.
The Dhanush Yagya emerged as a major highlight. After several kings failed to lift Lord Shiva’s bow, King Janak expressed his anguish, prompting an angry response from Lakshman. Lord Ram subsequently broke the bow, leading to the dramatic arrival of the enraged Parashuram. The confrontation concluded with Lord Ram’s respectful praise, including the verse “Raghukul mein Surya samaan ho tum”.
Another significant sequence portrayed Manthara influencing Queen Kaikeyi amid preparations for Lord Ram’s coronation. The resulting demand for Ram’s exile and Bharat’s coronation brought to life one of the most consequential episodes of the epic.
Samiti general secretary Hem Pant said several women had made valuable contributions to the production, including dance directors Bharti Pandey, Bhawna Lohani, Hema Tiwari, Chitra Pandey, Manju Padalia Sharma and Sujata Sharma.
Yashi Lohumi played Lord Ram, Falguni Lohumi portrayed Lakshman, and Anuradha Mishra appeared as Sita. Their performances, alongside the detailed staging of the traditional episodes, helped bring the timeless narrative to life for the audience.
