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 The
word ‘lila’ comes from Hindu religious texts. Although the word has many
meanings, one of the definitions is “sport. When combined with a shortened version
of the name Rama, the term Ramlila translates into “Rama’s playful deeds."
The literal translation of the phrase Ramlila means, “Rama’s sport."
This phrase reflects the paradox
deliberated in the Hindu faith – why would a perfect Supreme Being have any
need to create a world. Followers of the Hindu faith subscribe to the idea
that the creation of the world are the, “manifestations of his spontaneous
joyful disinterested creativity – are his ‘sports.
The Hindu religion that permeates Northern India is based upon the trinity
of the Gods Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu. Most generally, Brahma holds the
place of the creator of the world, Vishnu as the preserver, and Shiva as the
destroyer. The mythical Hindu legends that the faith is based upon is a
complicated and in-depth maze of Gods, battles, rituals, and celebrations.
On the first day of the Dassarah season, the inhabitants of Northern India
begin the celebration that marks the anniversary of the day that Rama, the
seventh incarnation of Vishnu, cut off the demon King Ravana’s twenty arms
and ten heads.
The celebration
revolves around a performance of the Ramlila. In Ramnagar, the annual
performance of the Ramlila lasts 30-31 days and over 10,000 Ramlilas are
performed each Dassarah season. |
