Sita Haran and Panchvati Prasang were staged under a weeklong Shri Ramleela Utsav leaving the audience mesmerised. The fest is being organised at Ravindra Bhavan Auditorium by Madhya Pradesh Culture Department.
As different episodes of Ramayana were being staged at Shri Ramleela Utsav, on Thursday it was exile of lord Rama towards forest. Here on Sunday abduction of Sita and exile in Panchvati were already staged. Notably, after the wedding, Keikeyi was compelled into making Bharata king in order to use one of the boons that she received from Dasharata. She was forced by one of the workers of the palace named Manthara and forced Sri Rama to leave Ayodhya and spend a period of exile in the forests of Dandaka and later Panchavati.
Sita and lakshmana willingly renounced the comforts of the palace and joined Sri Rama in braving exile, even living in the Dandaka and Panchavati forests. The Panchavati forest became the scene for Sita’s abduction by Ravana, King of lanka. Ravana kidnapped Sita, disguising himself as a brahmana mendicant, or begging holy-man, while her husband was away fetching a magnificent golden deer to please her. Ravana took her back to his kingdom in lanka, and Sita was held as a prisoner in one of his palaces. During her captivity for a year in lanka, Ravana expressed his desire for her; however, Sita refused his advances and struggled to maintain her chastity. As laxman and Rama returned they began a search for Sita to which Jatayu who hurt himself while saving Sita from Ravana informs the brothers that she has been abducted. later, Rama and laxman prepares for a war with Ravana to save Sita.
Also the Ram Hanuman Milan, the meeting of lord Ram and lord Hanuman gave goosebumps to the audience. later the artists performed Ram Sugriv Maitri, Bali Vadh and lanka Dahan which were also presented wondrously on stage.
The audiences were much delighted to watch this episode live on stage. The costumes and stage craft added zest in the performance.