A groundbreaking all-women production of ‘Mahila Dwara Ramleela’ was held in Zirakpur on Sunday. Pratibha Singh, who portrayed Lord Ram, shared, “Every character in this Ramleela is performed by women. Our youngest participant is just 6 months old, while the eldest actor is 82. Many attendees are curious and surprised to see women taking on these roles, as it is quite unprecedented. We follow a strict process: we begin with an aarti, maintain a clean backstage area without shoes, and do not bring any food on stage.”
She explained that getting ready for her role as Lord Ram takes about 40 minutes and that rehearsals kicked off a month prior to the performance. “I’ve been acting for three years now, so it’s easier for me. I also try to encourage my fellow actors. I faced numerous challenges in my first year because Lord Ram’s character is quite reserved, which contrasts with my personality,” she added.
Lalit Mohan, who initiated this Ramleela, mentioned that he has been organizing the event since 1975. “For the last three years, I’ve been in charge of the make-up, which takes approximately 45 minutes per actor. Characters like Raavan, Janak, and Dasharath require the most extensive make-up time. This year, we have 50 performers, and our final scene wraps up around 10:30 PM,” he noted.
Make-up artist Sanjay Verma expressed the difficulties of transforming women to look like men, which adds an extra layer of challenge to the process.
As the festival season gathers momentum, events such as Navratri, Ramleela, Garba, and Dandiya are anticipated to generate more than Rs 50,000 crore in business nationwide, according to estimates from the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). Over 100,000 events, including religious, cultural, social, and spiritual programs, are expected across the country, creating job opportunities for millions.
Major upcoming celebrations include Vijayadashami, Durga Visarjan, Diwali, and Chhath Puja. In Delhi alone, there will be more than 1,000 Ramleelas and numerous Durga Puja pandals, while the Garba and Dandiya festivities, traditionally from Gujarat, will see widespread participation across India, including in the capital.