NAINITAL/ALMORA: With state elections around the corner, several MLAs, ministers and party workers are attending the Ramlilas being staged in their respective constituencies to garner political support. Some are even performing in these Ramlilas. The most prominent among them is urban development minister Bansidhar Bhagat, who is playing the role of Dashrath in the Ramlila at Haldwani. Besides, former Congress minister, Bittu Karnatak, in Almora is playing the character of Ravan.
Ramesh Rawat, a resident of Haldwani, told TOI, “Locally, Bhagat is popular as Haldwani's Dashrath as he has been playing the character since 1979.” Similarly, Karnatak has been playing the role of Ravan for nearly a decade now.
“This is not about politics but tradition. I took out time to participate in the Ramlila even as a minister,” Karnatak told TOI. Locals also share his sentiment. “We love him as Ravan because he is an excellent actor. We don't see this from the prism of politics. His performance attracts many people towards Ramlila here,” said Hem Joshi, an Almora resident.
However, the Ramlila stage is being used to gather political support as well. In Yamunotri, MLA Kedar Singh Rawat used the stage to hail the Centre for delivering on the promises of Ram Mandir and abrogating Article 370 and 35A. Some politicians are also using the platform to connect with local residents.
Meanwhile, Ramlilas and Ravan Dahan programmes near the Indo-Nepal border have been attracting viewers from across the border as well. Speaking to TOI, a resident of Champawat’s Tanakpur said that hundreds of people from Nepal’s border villages come for the Ramlilas being held on the Indian side every day and go back the same evening.
