Ramayana - An epic dance drama

Who doesn't know the Ramayana?

It is a timeless classic of how good wins over evil; how parents, the elderly, and teachers should be respected; how relations between family members should be; and how a good ruler and a good human being should be. The Ramayana is relevant even in today's time where we can learn valuable lessons about different aspects of life.

We, in India, grew up listening to the stories of Lord Rama from our grandparents. In 1987, Ramayana was aired on the DD national television channel, and we all know how empty the streets were when Ramayana was aired on Sundays! The people playing the characters in Ramayan gained so much fame and respect that it created a lasting impression on the masses. I saw some videos where the people playing Ram and Lakshman refused to do any advertisements for products such as tobacco or alcohol that could hurt the sentiments of the people. Such was Ramayana's dedication and the impact it had on the characters.

For many years, Lasya Priya Fine Arts, a dance academy in Karlsruhe, has been doing the theater show of Ramayan. We were overjoyed when they announced the third Ramayana theatrical performance. We have seen Ramayan as a series or a movie, but Ramayana in a dance form? That would be something new and unique to experience.

The magnum opus unfolded in front of our eyes on September 25th, 2022, in a grand concert hall in Karlsruhe. The crowd was a mix and match of Indians, Germans, and other nationalities too. The anchoring of the program was done by three beautiful and confident ladies who explained the agenda of the evening in German and English. They gave us an idea of what we could expect in the sequences. And we had no idea what was in store for us!

The program started with a Ganesh Vandana (Lord Ganesha is worshipped at the beginning of any event, and it is believed that he helps in removing all the hindrances and difficulties that might occur during the event). The founder and main person of Lasya Priya Fine Arts, Ms. Meera Mani, performed on the stage with her two disciples. With their bright costumes, wonderful expressions, footwork, and perfect lighting and sound system, the ladies looked gorgeous. Then came a group of girls to dance on the Rama Stuti. That was also a mesmerizing performance. It was perfect coordination and graceful dance all the way through. And then started the much-awaited performances of Ramayana one by one.

It started with Balakaand (the birth of Lord Rama, his childhood days, how he and Lakshmana were approached by Vishwamitra and how they destroyed the demons, the introduction of Sita and also the meeting of Sita and Rama at the Swayamvar). The kids did a fantastic job of dressing up and being able to emote on the stage, which had a large audience. The audience cheered for all the little ones. The girls who played the parts of Rama and Lakshmana were very graceful and maintained wonderful posture throughout the performance. They were emoting with just their hands and faces sometimes, and every emotion was so perfect that it touched the hearts of the audience.

Then came the Ayodhya Kaand (events that led to the exile for 14 years in exile were depicted here). King Dashratha and Mata Kaikeyi showed their prowess in emoting helplessness and love for their son, respectively. The greatness of Lakshmana, who, without thinking twice, decides to go with Lord Rama and Mata Sita into exile, won everyone's hearts. Who wouldn't want a sibling like Lakshmana? Giving away all the riches and luxuries and going away to a forest on the command of the mother was well depicted by all on the screen.

The next in line was the Aranya Kaand( episodes in the forest that led to the abduction of Sita Mata). Surpankha (Ravan's sister who tried to seduce Lord Rama and Lakshmana and was punished by Lakshmana), Marich (the demon who disguised himself as a golden deer to lure Sita), Jatayu (the bird who tried to protect Sita Mata from Ravan's abduction), and Ravan himself were all excellently portrayed. The story of Shabari (a great devotee of Rama who tasted the fruits first and then gave them to him to eat) was endearing. We could see how much time, energy, and dedication have gone into these performances.

The Kishkinda Kaand (entry of Hanuman and his Vaanar sena) received the most applause. The small boys did a fantastic job; they played their parts well and got a lot of appreciation. The Vali (Kishkinda's king) was also well-presented.

Sundara Kaand (where Hanuman goes to Lanka in search of Sita Mata, meets her, and gives her the ring of Lord Rama) comes next. The character playing Sita Mata was fabulous. She conveyed the feelings of helplessness, longing for her husband, and faith in her husband that he would come to her rescue very well.

The last and most important Kaand, Yuddha Kaand, was the highlight of the program. When Lord Rama decides to fight Ravan by going to Lanka, all the Vanaar sena come to their rescue, and once again the crowd cheered for them. The story of Lakshmana getting injured and Hanuman bringing the whole Himalaya Parvat so that Lakshman could be cured was very well performed. The highlight was the face-off between Lord Rama and Ravan, and the moment Ravan landed on the ground, killed by Lord Rama, there were claps and chants of Jai Shree Ram in the hall. The re-union of Lord Rama and Sita Mata brought everyone together on the stage, and the show ended with all the artists coming on stage with their respective groups.

It was a troupe of 60 artisans, and the preparations had been going on since May 2022. The costumes were perfect; colorful, vibrant, and everyone looked so happy and beautiful in those costumes! The properties, be it the tail of Hanuman and the Vanar Sena or the Dhanush (bow) or the decorative swing on which the newly wed couple sat, all fit so well into the story. Some of the little kids hadn't learnt the Bharatnatyam dance form, but still they mustered the courage to come up on the stage and perform. Kudos to them, their dance teachers, and their parents, who encouraged them. The dancers of Lasya Priya Fine Arts (both professional and hobby dancers) were a sight to watch, and their dedication and hard work really paid off. Salute to all the people behind the screen as well, who were moving properties for the acts from time to time. A big salute to the people who organised it and made it happen. It was a wonderful treat for the eyes, and the soul was drenched in Rama Bhakti. Thank you, Mani family and all others on and offscreen, for making our evening memorable and special.