Bihar's vanishing Ramleela tradition: Village stages silent as Dussehra celebrations change

Aurangabad (Bihar), Oct 18 (UNI) Once upon a time, as Dussehra approached, villages across Bihar would begin preparing for one of their most cherished cultural traditions Ramleela. Months before the festival, local committees would become active, performers would begin rehearsals and villages (chowraha) squares would gradually turn into open-air theatres where episodes from the Ramayana came alive before enthusiastic audiences. For nearly ten days, these performances brought villagers together in a celebration that blended religious devotion with theatre, music, community participation and shared cultural memory. Audiences travelled from neighbouring villages, distant parts of the country and even Nepal to witness…