National Ramleela Council to award 25 promoters

Members of the National Ramleela Council of TT (NRCTT) will join with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to award 25 persons who have contributed to the development of Ramleela celebrations in the country. The award ceremony is carded to take place at the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Centre, Mc Bean, Couva, at 5.30 pm on September 14.

The Ramleela celebration is the enactment of the life and time of the Hindu God, Lord Rama. It runs for ten days with daily performances by members from the various villages in the country. This celebration dates back more than 120 years ago. According to the PRO/Secretary of NRCTT, Indra Pooran, each year just before Divali, the indentured labourers who came from India would gather together at a local venue to portray the life of Lord Rama. This drama portrayal remains one of the oldest celebrations in the country. “The celebration of Divali marks the coming of Lord Rama from exile. More than 5,000 years ago in India, the people lit the streets as they welcomed Lord Rama to the city of Ayodya. Today the Hindus still maintain this practice,” Pooran explained. She noted NRCTT met recently to discuss the promotion of Ramleela celebrations in the country. This drama portrayal is hosted in villages such as Tunapuna, St Augustine, Carapichaima, Felicity, Preysal, Tarouba, Couva, Cedar Hill, Matilda, Siparia, Penal, Orange Valley and Cungal. 

The villagers get together for rehearsals before the actual celebration takes place. The characters chosen to do this drama include Lord Rama, his wife Sita, his brothers Lakshman, Bharat and Satrohan and his mothers Khekayi, Sumintra and Kausilya. Lord Rama’s father, King Dasharat, is played by an elder in the village. The story starts with the birth appearance of Lord Rama and his brothers. It continues for ten days and ends with the burning of the demon king Ravana. Among those who will be honoured are Mahant Babu Boochoonsingh, Rampat Maraj, Siewdath Maharaj, Ajeet Praimsingh, Tulsie Dass Sharma, Elizabeth Baboolal, Sirju Ramoutar, Dolly Lochan, Seecharan Pandogie, Seereram Desain, Carlton Ramlal, Lalla Singh, Roopchand Baal, Rampartap Baal, Sankar Sinanan, Mahase Maharaj and Premchand Ramsaran.