The Ramayana is the most popular book in Northern India. The people of Northern India accept the Ramcaritmanas, the Tulsidas rendering of the Sanskrit archetype composed by Valmiki, as a religious text and  it  is occasionally referred to as  the Bible of North India. However, the story is more than just a story, the Ramayana is considered  a gospel  and   an integral part of Hindu scriptures and  daily life in India. Mothers tell the story to their children, storytellers tell the story to audiences through the Ramlila.

Drenched in tradition, mythology, and values, the Ramlila speaks to audiences who come from around the world to witness a play they can recite almost word for word. The story is not new, but through repetitive mimicry, the many Hindu values extolled in the Ramayana are repeated in an oral performance that allows access to every single person who can hear the words of the play. The play functions  as a lesson, not a simple form of entertainment for the masses. The events performed from the Ramayana teach of loyalty, piety, value, love, honor, and honesty - flowing together to form a single vision of how individuals should live their lives. Additionally, the  Ramlila works to unite  people who share a belief system - providing audiences with examples of what may happen when an individual chooses between good and evil and encouraging believers to choose the reward associated with good behavior rather than the consequence of punishment.

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