Traditional pandals at Delhi’s ‘mini Kolkata’ get a modern touch
In a series of essays on Delhi’s history, 19th century author and academic Maulvi Zaki Ullah writes that another performance was held at a distance of three miles from the city limits in Wazirabad cantonment for which the infantry regiment’s Hindu and Muslim soldiers jointly collected donations and made arrangements.
“Ramlila at Yamuna banks behind Lal Quila was meant for the city residents and also for the royal family, which continued at the same location for years. After the 1857 uprising, the venue was changed. First, it shifted to Tees Hazari Bagh and later it was played outside the Ajmeri Gate. People would carry the ashes of burnt Lanka homes as it was considered sacred,” said Swapna Liddle, convener, Delhi chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). Liddle is the author of ‘Chandni Chowk: The Mughal city of old Delhi’ and organises heritage walks.
The pond ‘Shahji ka Talaab’ at Ajmeri Gate served as the perfect backdrop for the ‘Kevat’ scene, where a boatman ferries Ram, Lakshman and Sita across Saryu river as they set out on their 14-year exile. The water body was levelled up later and Kamla Market was constructed at the location in 1950s.
Ramlilas after Independence
After the fall of Mughal Empire, the Ramlilas committees were run with the help of donations, a majority of which came from big city industrialists.
One such Ramlila, organised by Delhi Cloths Mills’ (DCM’s) workers near Bara Hindu Rao area, was sponsored by Shri Ram family, the owners of the factory. It had gained popularity because of its state-of-the-art revolving stage. Moreover, it was the first Ramlila in Delhi where Hanuman was shown flying in the air.
Apart from the residents of neighbouring localities — Karol Bagh, Regarpura, Anand Parbat, Dev Nagar, Azad Market, Shastri Nagar, and Shakti Nagar — the DCM Ramlila drew attendees from Haryana cities like Rewari, Sonepat and Panipat also. The Kishan Ganj station nearby played an important role in bringing people in large numbers from bordering cities.
Historiographer and famous Delhi chronicler RV Smith said those who could not afford to go to Ramlila Maidan went to the DCM ground. “Workers from Swatantra Bharat Mills would also join DCM Ramlila. The company put up a hoarding of their products at the venue. It was also known for its giant effigies. On one occasion, they were higher than the Ravan’s effigy at Ramlila Maidan,” he said.
The DCM complex turned into fair ground on Dussehra as several vendors would set up their stalls. Kiosks selling knick-knacks, wooden toys, sweets and counselling by doctors from Tibbia College were an added attraction at the DCM Ramlila.
“Doctors from Tibbia College would give free medicines. When they briefed about home remedies, people noted them on the piece of a paper,” said Om Prakash, a government employee, who has seen several performances at DCM ground. This production by mill workers was stopped around mid 1990s.
“It was a high-tech performance, where Hanuman flew over the audience. It had to be shut because the area was to be redeveloped into a residential complex for the factory workers,” said Shobha Deepak Singh, daughter of Lala Charat Ram of DCM.
Singh has also been organising a dance-drama based on the life of Ram in central Delhi since 1957 under the banner of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra (SBKK). It was started at Feroz Shah Kotla ground but was moved to a new location — Kendra’s premises at Copernicus Marg — in 2000.
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The production is a three-hour musical show in which complete Ramayana is played starting from ‘Kraunch Vadh’ to Ravan’s killing. It is performed to recorded dialogues and music based on classical and folk idioms.