New Delhi: Gen Z will be among the focus areas as Delhi’s Ramlilas prepare to return with a mix of tradition, technology and new ways of engaging younger audiences. From Tulsi saplings and towering effigies to immersive sound-and-light productions, organisers are combining spectacle with efforts to introduce youth to the values at the heart of the Ramayana.At Madhavdas Park, Red Fort Grounds, Shri Dharmik Leela Committee is preparing to present its 103-year-old Ramlila in a modern format while retaining the traditional Ram Katha. New staging elements and an expanded range of cultural and religious programmes are being planned to connect younger viewers with Indian culture.Committee spokesperson Ravi Jain said the presentation would evolve without losing its cultural essence. “Our aim from the beginning has been to introduce the youth to the life and character of Lord Ram. They should understand what he stood for and how he always upheld truth,” he said.Jain added younger generations may initially be attracted by the spectacle, but the experience could stay with them and gradually introduce them to the story’s deeper values. “If the messages of the Ramayana reach young people and they begin following these values, they can grow into responsible and principled citizens,” he added.Also at Red Fort Grounds, Lav Kush Ramlila Committee is placing Gen Z at the centre of its ‘Ghar-Ghar Ram, Ghar-Ghar Tulsi’ campaign. Committee president Arjun Kumar said Tulsi saplings would be distributed to 5,100 youngsters. “The Ramlila, scheduled from Oct 11 to 21, will feature a high-tech digital production and performances by around 40 Bollywood actors. It will also be telecast live. On Dussehra, an image of Lord Ram will be created using one lakh diyas,” Kumar said.Shri Ram Lila Committee Janakpuri, meanwhile, is experimenting with theatre-like technology. Its production will involve nearly 150 performers, expansive stages, arches, LED screens and a meticulously mapped sound system. “The person in the first row and someone in the last row will hear the performance with the same clarity. The basic concept remains unchanged, but we improve its presentation every year,” said Narendra Chawla, the committee’s general secretary.Based primarily on the Ramcharitmanas, the script also draws on other texts and depicts lesser-known episodes. “The narrative begins with Lord Shiva recounting Ram’s story to Parvati and returns to them during Ram’s coronation, completing the circle,” Chawla added.He added that actors from different Delhi theatre groups are selected through annual auditions instead of hiring a pre-assembled troupe. “We want to motivate the youth in the right direction. If even one person among the 50,000 watching is inspired to change, we believe our purpose has been fulfilled,” he said.Organisers of Ramlila at IP Extension said they were working to make this year’s production more engaging. Besides youngsters, teachers from several schools will also take part in performances, they said.In Dwarka Sector 10, scale will take centre stage as Dwarka Shri Ramlila Society prepares for its 15th edition. Its biggest attraction will be the burning of a 221-foot Ravan effigy. Chairman and chief patron Akash Rajesh Gehlot said the production would use its spectacle to convey the values of truth, righteousness, dignity and good conduct to the younger generation. Special attention would also be paid to crowd convenience, safety, lighting and sound arrangements, he said.
