District Cooperative Bank Chairperson Mili Latwal attends as Chief Guest; 10 spectators receive prizes in lucky draw
Almora: The second day of the historic Ramlila organised by Shri Lakshmi Bhandar Hukka Club in Almora witnessed a grand staging of the Dhanush Yagya episode from the life of Lord Shri Ram. Through impressive performances, powerful dialogues, melodious singing and well-coordinated stage presentation, the artists brought the celebrated episode to life, leaving the audience deeply engaged in the devotional atmosphere.
The highlight of the evening was the enactment of the Sita Swayamvar in Janakpur. According to the traditional narrative, several kings attempted to lift the divine bow of Lord Shiva but failed. At the direction of Guru Vishwamitra, Lord Shri Ram stepped forward, lifted the bow and attempted to string it, causing it to break. The scene was greeted with enthusiastic chants of “Jai Shri Ram,” filling the Ramlila venue with devotion and excitement.
Mili Latwal, Chairperson of the District Cooperative Bank Limited, Almora, attended the programme as the Chief Guest. Other guests included Lalit Latwal, Raghav Pant of Lakshmi Medical Store in Lala Bazaar, Radha Bisht of Hotel Milam, Junior Manager Santosh Gangola and Kamal Shah. Office-bearers and members of the club welcomed the guests and expressed their gratitude for their participation.
Addressing the gathering, Mili Latwal praised the club for preserving Almora’s historic Ramlila tradition. She observed that Ramlila represents India’s religious faith, cultural heritage and social unity. Such events help connect younger generations with Indian traditions and inspire them to follow the ideals of Lord Shri Ram, including truth, discipline, duty and righteousness. She also appreciated the dedication of the artists, organisers and volunteers involved in the event.
Shri Lakshmi Bhandar Hukka Club’s Ramlila holds a special place in Almora’s cultural identity. The annual event is not merely a religious performance but also a platform for community participation and the preservation of a tradition passed down through generations.
Club President Dharanidhar Pandey, Secretary Vineet Bisht and former municipal councillor and Ramlila coordinator Rajendra Tiwari played important roles in organising the programme. Members and volunteers contributed to stage arrangements, costumes, makeup, discipline and other essential preparations.
Those who supported the arrangements included Tribhuvan Giri, Harshvardhan Verma, Meenakshi Sah Agarwal, Meenakshi Joshi, Lalit Mohan Sah, Manoj Sah, Bharat Goswami, Kanchan Bisht, Vijay Chauhan, Kailash Sah and several artisans. Abhay Upreti, Maninkaran Gupta, Manas Vani, Paras, Rohit Sah, Harendra Verma, Chandrashekhar Kandpal, Jagat Mohan Joshi, Abhay Sah, Vinod Giri and Shri Mishra also contributed to the programme.
Chandan Arya, Gaurav Tiwari, Akanksha, Neelam Bhatt, Geeta Tiwari, Harshita Tiwari, Ajay Sah, Shri Andola, Sanjay Sah, Kamal Verma, Prem Prakash, Sundar Janauti, Himanshu Kandpal, Manoj Joshi and Yogesh Joshi were among the other members who assisted with various responsibilities. Ajay Chauhan and Diwan Bisht managed discipline arrangements, while Preeti Bhatt conducted the programme.
A lucky draw was organised at the end of the event, in keeping with the club’s daily tradition. Ten lucky spectators received prizes, adding to the excitement and encouraging greater audience participation.
The club’s office-bearers stated that the historic Ramlila is an invaluable part of Almora’s cultural heritage and that preserving it for future generations is a collective responsibility. They appealed to residents to attend the upcoming performances with their families, encourage the artists and support the continuation of this cherished tradition.
The organisers also expressed their gratitude to the guests, performers, volunteers and audience members for their continued support.
