PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The historic Ramlila Festival continuing since 1952 in Old Tehri and shifted to Dehradun from the erstwhile capital of Tehri princely state in 2023 commenced at Shri Guru Nanak Ground in Race Course, Dehradun on the occasion of Janmashtami. Organised by Shri Ramakrishna Leela Samiti Tehri registered in Dehradun, the festival started with the ‘Hanuman Dhwaja Sthapana’. It included parikrama, puja and a havan of the Hanuman flag, accompanied by the auspicious sound of the dhol-damau, the traditional musical instrument of Garhwal. The organisers said that the old tradition of beginning the Ramlila rehearsal with the installation of the Hanuman flag was being carried forward.
The president of the Ramlila committee, Abhinav Thapar said that the Ramlila festival had been watched by a record number of over 82 lakh viewers through various media. “With this wide audience reach, this has established itself as Uttarakhand’s most-watched Ramlila. Through Ramlila, efforts are continuously underway to promote the state’s history, culture, folk traditions and timeless spiritual heritage to the nation and the world, and also to anchor the new generation in its cultural roots,” he added.
Speaking of the inspiration behind reviving this ancient festival in Dehradun, he said that the objective of the committee is not just to organise Ramlila but also to connect this glorious Ramlila tradition of Old Tehri with the new generation in Dehradun. “We are seeking to establish it on a wide scale as the ancient cultural heritage of Uttarakhand,” he added.
This year too, the Chaupai, Katha, dialogue and traditional staging style of the Ramlila of old Tehri would be presented in its original form blended with modern technology. Sharing more, Thapar said that the Ramlila Mahotsav 2026 would have many attractions, including kalash yatra, digital live telecast, laser & sound show, fair, swings and ferris wheel for children. “On the occasion of Vijayadashmi, huge effigies of Ravana, Meghnadh and Kumbhakarna will be torched in the presence of thousands of viewers,” he shared.
