Sahi Yatra, an 11-day-long annual open air enactment of the Ramayana, kicked off to a colourful start on Saturday evening on the auspicious occasion of Sri Ram Navami. Hundreds of artists from different corners of the city use to participate in this grand open air theatre. Roles are entrusted to different Sahis (localities) and schools of martial arts to perform a certain episode of the Ramayana every day. On Sunday, Kalikadebi Sahi presented an episode marking the birth of Sri Ram. Youths of various Sahis and Jaaga Ghars (schools of physical culture and martial arts) prepare themselves to stage important episodes of the Ramayana on the streets every night. They visit other lanes to demonstrate their martial art skills along with their plays. As per the schedule, next day the other Sahi presents another episode and with new characters. The entire play is planned, directed and streamlined in a systematic manner. The characters of Ramayana are assigned to various Sahis and Jaaga Ghars in accordance with the importance of the roles and capacity to make it more lively and vibrant. The Sahi Yatra (play) begins on the Chaitra Astami and concludes on the Baisakh Dwitiya with the killing of Ravana by the mighty Sri Ram.
