FRIDAY, 08 SEPTEMBER 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Sri Ramakrishna Leela Samiti Tehri (SRLST) organised the Hanuman Dhwaj installation programme in Tehri Nagar in Dehradun on Thursday. Notably, the people of Old Tehri town which was submerged in the water of Tehri lake were rehabilitated in Tehri Nagar in Dehradun. The secretary of SRLST Amit Pant said that the religious programme, held on the occasion of Janmashtami, was meant to revive the fabled Ramleela that used to be held annually in Old Tehri since 1952.
The residents of Tehri Nagar attended the programme in large numbers and circumambulated around the Hanuman flag rhythmically to the accompaniment of Garhwal’s traditional musical instrument- Dhol Damau. Additionally, a Havan ceremony was performed by the local people to consecrate the flag.
Dwelling on the significance of the Ramleela that used to be held in Old Tehri on the eve of Janmashtami, the president of SRLST, Abhinav Thapar said that Tehri Ramleela holds a rich historical value. “Hence it is being celebrated every year in Doon now. Staging Ramleela in Doon not just provides an opportunity to bring the history of Tehri to life but also provides the opportunity to the people of Tehri to connect with their history and traditions associated with Sanatan Dharma in the form of entertainment,” he added.
He further said that Ramleela will be organised from October 15 during the Sharadiya Navratras in Tehri Nagar.
In this Ramleela, the story, dialogue and the manner of staging are similar to Old Tehri’s famed Ramleela that started in 1952. “Things have been kept similar to ensure that the people of Tehri remain connected to their religio-cultural heritage while living in Dehradun. The heritage should be preserved in a pure form and the people must stay rooted in their region’s cultural ethos in this fast-changing life,” Thapar said.
