Artistes from Ayodhya, Mathura,Kolkata to stage ‘leelas’ at Mela

Prayagraj: Vrindavan-based Ram Ji Pandey along with his troupe, apart from performing Ram Leela and Raas Leela at the camp of Charkhi Dadri (Haryana) at sector no. 5 of Magh Mela, will also be spreading messages of socially relevant issues like women empowerment, vaccination, better healthcare for pregnant women, road safety and environment among the audiences.
Artistes have started arriving at the camps of prominent seers and saints ahead of Makar Sankranti snan. They come from Mathura-Vrindaban, Chitrakoot, Ayodhya and Banda besides Prayagraj.
National president of Akhil Bharatiya Dandi Sanyasi Parishad, Pithadhishwar Swami Brahmashram Maharaj told TOI, “This year, the groups apart from staging Ram Leela, Raas Leela and Krishna Leela, will also be spreading messages on socially relevant issues after acknowledging that major chunk of audiences come from rural area and the messages could leave a positive note among them. The leelas will be performed from January 13 to February 5.”
“Groups of 25 artistes along with makeup men and musicians will be performing Ram Leela and Krishna Leela both day and night. For that, adequate security measures have also been made at pandals and separate sitting arrangements for men and women devotees,” he added.
The 44-day Magh Mela began on January 6 .
R K Pandey, a group leader of artistes, who has come from Banda, said: “We find a better platform to explore during Magh Mela. Apart from conducting various roles and characters, we undoubtedly earn a handsome amount by staging episodes of Ram Leela and Krishna Leela.”.
These groups roam from one place to another where religious fairs are being organised and perform leelas and other religious episodes. The group members carry traditional dresses and other accessories. Interestingly, authorities of religious and spiritual camps have set up waterproof pandals not only for religious shows, but also for saints and seers who deliver discourses on Ram Katha, Bhagwat Gita,Valmiki Katha, etc.