Ram’s Exile, Sumantra’s Lament and Shravan Kumar Episode Highlight Fifth Day; Judicial Officials Praise Drug-Free Event
ALMORA: The fifth day of the Ramleela organised by Shri Bhuvneshwar Mahadev Mandir and Ramleela Committee, Karnataka Khola, featured emotional performances depicting Lord Rama’s departure for exile, Sumantra’s lament, the Kevat episode, the story of Dasharatha and Shravan Kumar, and King Dasharatha’s final moments.
The performers captivated the audience with their expressive acting, powerful dialogues and sensitive portrayal of the episodes. Sumantra’s grief over separation from Lord Rama, the dialogues of young Dasharatha and the tragic story of Shravan Kumar were among the highlights of the evening.
The performances received enthusiastic applause from the audience. Viewers watching through online platforms also appreciated the artists’ presentations.
Judicial Officials Inaugurate the Programme
The fifth day’s programme was inaugurated by Anju Shri Juyal, Additional District Judge and Family Court Judge; Anamika Singh, Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority; judicial magistrate and Civil Judge Naval Singh Bisht; Civil Judge Udisha; and Almora Circle Officer Balwant Singh Rawat. The dignitaries jointly lit the ceremonial lamp.
Addressing the gathering, the guests said that Ramleela should not be viewed merely as a form of entertainment. They emphasised that the life of Lord Rama offers valuable lessons in dignity, sacrifice, duty and adherence to moral principles.
The guests also appreciated the committee’s initiative to organise a drug-free Ramleela and commended its patron and coordinator, Bittu Karnataka, for his leadership and efforts in successfully conducting the event.
Artists Bring Ramayana Episodes to Life
Komal Joshi portrayed Lord Rama, Gayatri Tiwari played Lakshmana, Vaishnavi Joshi portrayed Sita, Gaurav Kandpal played Bharat, Mishti Mehta portrayed Shatrughna, Amar Bora played King Dasharatha, Deepak Pandey portrayed Sumantra, and Ashok Bankoti played Nishadraj.
Anil Joshi, Rahul Joshi, Sunita Bagadwal and Asha Mehta portrayed members of the Kevat family. Meenakshi Joshi played Kaushalya, Divya Kandpal portrayed Kaikeyi, Nikandrya played Sumitra, Kavya Almiyan portrayed Manthara, Kapil Malhotra played young Dasharatha, and Kamal Joshi portrayed Shravan Kumar.
Mahi, Jahnavi, Harshita Bagadwal, Riya and Khushi performed the roles of forest dwellers, while two child artists portrayed Shravan Kumar’s parents.
The cast brought emotional depth to the performances, particularly in the scenes depicting Sumantra’s separation from Rama and the tragic episode of Shravan Kumar and his parents.
Committee Focuses on Cultural Preservation
Under the guidance of coordinator Bittu Karnataka, the committee continues to work towards making the annual Ramleela more organised, engaging and culturally significant.
The initiative seeks to preserve Almora’s traditional performing arts, promote local talent and familiarise younger generations with the values and ideals associated with Lord Rama. The drug-free nature of the event was also highlighted as an important feature of the organisation’s efforts.
Community Members Attend in Large Numbers
Those present included Rohit Karki, Jagdish Chandra Tiwari, Anand Singh Nayal, Bhuvan Chandra Karnataka, Liladhar Kandpal, Puran Chandra Tiwari, Mathura Datt Kandpal, Ramesh Chandra Joshi, Badri Prasad Karnataka, Kamlesh Karnataka, Kailash Chandra Tiwari, Jeevan Chandra Tiwari, Bhupendra Singh Bisht, Chandrashekhar Sati, Manish Tiwari, Anil Rawat, Hansa Datt Karnataka, Yogesh Joshi, Gaurav Kandpal, Dinesh Vrijesh Pandey, Nandan Bagadwal, Hem Pandey, Devendra Goswami and Abhishek Tiwari, along with a large number of spectators.
The programme was conducted by Bhawna Malhotra.
The Karnataka Khola Ramleela continues to serve as an important platform for promoting religious values, preserving Almora’s cultural heritage and strengthening community participation through traditional theatre.
