Ramlila
Backstage
Sarai Kaale Khan, Delhi
October, 2019
Ramlila is a dramatic play and an ancient tradition of India since the emergence of Ramcharitramanas, the version of the Ramayan penned by Tulsidas. At Sarai Kaale Khan in Delhi, the festivities begin ten days before the festival of Dussehra. Each day, an episode of the text is performed. Locals from the area participate and come together to present the show.
Boys of all ages take part in the play, they also cross-dress to enact female characters, which is an age-old tradition. The roots of this tradition however lie in the fact that back in the day, participation of women in the entertainment field was looked down upon and their character was put under scrutiny.
