Mohali:- Mata Sita, captivated by the golden deer; Lakshman drawing a boundary to protect her; and Ravana arriving in the guise of a sage to deceive her—the episode of Sita’s abduction came alive on stage during the night’s Ramleela at the Ramleela and Dussehra Ground, Phase 1, Mohali. The event was organised by the Shri Ramleela and Dussehra Committee. Through their acting and impactful dialogues, the performers brought this important episode from the Ramayana to life.
During the performance, Marich assumed the form of a golden deer and devised a trick to lure Lord Shri Ram away from the hut. Ravana then approached Mata Sita disguised as a sage and abducted her when the opportunity arose. Mata Sita’s cries and Jatayu’s struggle to rescue her gave the episode an emotional turn. The scene in which Jatayu confronted Ravana conveyed a message of courage and sacrifice in the defence of righteousness.
Prateek played Lord Shri Ram, Sandeep Rana portrayed Lakshman, and Shivani played Mata Sita. Shannu portrayed Shurpanakha, while Kamal played Ravana. Sikandar appeared as Meghnad, Amit Verma as Vibhishan, Aditya Khanna/Santosh as Akshay Kumar, and Tarnveer as Khar. Yatin, Manish and Nitin portrayed Dushan, while Gaurav played Jatayu. Monu appeared as Marich, and Sachin played the golden deer. Other artists also performed the roles of various demons and courtiers.
The episode of Sita’s abduction is a decisive turning point in the Ramayana, after which the search for Mata Sita and the struggle against Ravana move forward. The episode conveys the message of remaining alert to deception, showing courage in times of crisis and standing up against injustice.
The Ramleela, organised under the leadership of Shri Ramleela and Dussehra Committee president Ashu Sood, will continue until October 19, while the Vijayadashami festival will be celebrated on October 20. The committee has appealed to city residents to attend the Ramleela with their families and become part of this religious and cultural tradition.
