Artists of Katra Ramleela busy practising pious lifestyle in order to justify their godly characters

PRAYAGRAJ: With less than a week left for Katra Ramleela to commence, the artists of the committee are making a deliberate attempt to acquire all virtues and get rid of the supposedly bad habits in order to do justice to the roles they are set to play.
Many of them have worked on changing their usual lifestyle, and have suddenly become energetic, vegetarian, non-smoker, soft-spoken and early risers.
Director of Katra ramleela, Subhodh Singh, says, “Artists playing prominent roles such as Ram, Laxman, Hanuman, Sita, Ravan, Bharat, Shatrughan, Bali, are making sincere efforts to immerse themselves in their respective characters. For this, they have brought massive changes in their lifestyles, most of them turning completely vegetarian and trying to be courteous.”
Singh, who has been associated with Katra Ramleela committee since the past five years, and directing Ramleela shows since two years, says, “By bringing major changes in themselves, the artists believe, they will be more comfortable in playing their character perfectly.”
Some of the key habits they have recently developed, say artists playing Ram, Sita, Hanuman and Angad, are rising early, seeking blessings of the elderly, feeding cows, speaking truth at any cost and meditating.
Katra Ramleela is set to commence from October 16 with the first show being the birth of demon king Ravan.
Singh says, “Armed with masks, thermal scanner and sanitizers, the artists of Katra Ramleela practise for four hours daily, from 3 pm to 7 pm. Although there are a total of 85 artists performing different roles in the Ramleela, artists are called only on those dates when their practices are scheduled. The schedule has been set in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
“All Covid protocols are strictly followed,” adds the director.
Interestingly, Katra Ramleela committee is the only committee across the country which starts its Ramleela with the birth of demon king Ravan. The committee is also known for taking out Ravan Barat. However, it is still not yet decided whether the Ravan Barat will be taken out this year or not in the wake of Covid.
The festivities in Katra, Prayagraj stand out among the many Ramleelas performed across India, as the place is considered to be the nanihal (maternal grandfather’s house) of demon king Ravan, who is glorified in the processions and Ramleela shows of the committee.
“Although Katra was home to Rishi Bharadwaja’s ashram, for locals, this locality is still Ravan’s nanihal, that is, the mayaka (maternal home) of Ravan’s stepmother Ilavida,” informs Singh.
Mithlesh Pandey, a theatre artist, is playing the role of Lord Ram since two years, while Manisha Gupta, a film and theatre artist, will play Sita in the fifth consecutive year. Manisha has also figured in television serials.