Ram Leela

Ram Leela is the theatrical performance of the Ramayana, a scacred book of the Hindu religion. Performed over a 10 day period by an all male cast on temporary stages erected on street corners and market squares.

The Ramayana is the story of Lord Ram the Hindu God who was forced into exile for 14 years. The audience are taught many lessons about life, duties and the values of relationships as the epic unfolds. The relationships between parents and their children, between spouses, siblings and the relationships between good and evil, temptation and restraint are addressed. The performance culminates in battle between Lord Ram and the ten headed demon Ravan.

I witnessed my first Ram Leela performance when I was in elemntary school. As a child I was mesmerized. These images document the performers and performance of the Ram Leela as I relived the childhood experiences.