Diwali and Ramleela

Ramleela

Bhartiyam proudly presents "Ramlila the musical". Ramlila (also known as 'Rama’s lila or play') is a dramatic folk re-enactment of the life of Lord Ram, which ends up in ten day battle between Lord Ram and Ravan as described in the Hindu religious epic, the Ramayana. A tradition that originates from the Indian subcontinent, the play is staged annually, often over ten or more successive nights. Usually the performances are timed to culminate on the festival of Vijayadashami day, which commemorates the victory of Lord Ram over demon king Ravana. The actors are taken out in a procession through the city that leads to a mela ground or town square where the enactment of the final battle takes place before giant effigies of Ravana, his brothers Kumbhakaran and Meghanath, who are all set on fire.

Rama is believed to be 7th incarnation of Vishnu and central figure of the Ramayana. The Ramayana is based on the life, times and values of Lord Rama. Lord Rama is called the Maryada Purushottam or the 'The best among the dignified'. The story of Lord Rama and his comrades is so popular in India that it has actually amalgamated the psyche of the Indian mainstream irrespective of their religion. The very story of Ramayana injects ethics to the Indian mainstream.

Diwali

Diwali (also known as Deepavali) is one of the most significant and most celebrated Festivals in India and around. Diwali is regarded as the Festival of Lights'.

It is a time to celebrate the victory of good over evil and injustice, and to pray to Goddess Laksmi to renew the health, wealth, and prosperity of households, businesses, and farms in the New Year. Diwali is the day when God Rama returned to Ayodya after his 14 year exile after vanquishing king Ravana and conquering Lanka. As the lunar New Year is the darkest night of the year, people put out rows of lamps to help Rama find his way back home. All across India, people decorate their houses and streets with rows of oil lamps and strings of white lights.

Diwali marks the end of the harvest season in most of India and Nepal. Farmers are thankful for the plentiful bounty of the year gone by, and pray for a good harvest for the year to come. Traditionally this marked the closing of accounts for businesses dependent on the agrarian cycle, and the last major celebration before winter. The deity of Lakshmi symbolizes wealth and prosperity, and her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead.

The illumination on Diwali signifies end of darkness which stands for ignorance and beginning of knowledge symbolized by lights that shall enlighten all. In this day people wear their best cloths, decorate their homes and exchange gifts.