Mere Ram: Bringing the Saga of Shri Ram to Life.

Ramlila: The Sacred Tale and its Significance

Ramlila means Rama’s play. It is a traditional and dramatic enactment of the ideals and epic battles of Lord Shri Ram, as told in the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana.

As the Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic, many performances are based on Ramcharitmanas, which was written by poet-saint Tulsidas in Awadhi.

Rooted deeply in the heart of North India, this performance comes alive in the autumn season in September and October, during the sacred days of Navratri and Dussehra.

It is far more than a celebration; Ramlila is the triumph of good over evil. It is the sacred story that acts like a thread that binds the whole community together, that whispers the moral values and cultural truths into the hearts of the younger generation, while preserving India’s living traditions and devotional arts.

Mere Ram: The Epic Retold

This divine saga of Shri Ram was graced by the presence of Deputy CM Diya Kumari and was performed by 58 talented students of the Journalism Department of the Biyani Group of Colleges.

The radiant Ramlila stage was woven with the colours of tradition and looked as if it had a soul of spirituality. The stage and costumes were designed in accordance with each character, bringing the characters to life.

The students delivered each line themselves, rather than using pre- recorded dialogue, which made the play look even more real.

Although the students who performed the Ramlila were not trained theatre artists, their dialogue delivery and acting were remarkable. Their performances and the emotions they put into their respective roles brought the characters to life and gave the audience a glimpse of Treta Yuga on the stage.

As the play unfolded, the audience found themselves drawn even deeper into its magic. The entire auditorium seemed to come alive with the spiritual energy, and the audience’s engagement made it even more magical.

It was the collective effort made by the teachers and students of the Journalism department that made the act so beautiful. All the long days they spent rehearsing, going home tired, still revising their lines even after going home, proved that it was all worth it.

The teachers spent days auditioning students for each role, selecting the students, writing the script, and designing costumes.

The student's efforts were equally important, from understanding the play, connecting with their respective characters emotionally, memorising their lines, to actually performing in front of chief guests, teachers, management, and students.

Reconnecting Students with the Culture

For many young people today, whose lives are shaped by screens and technology, Mere Ram was the idea of Dr Sanjay Biyani (Academic Director) to help students reconnect with their cultural roots.

For him, the initiative was more than a play; it was a way to showcase our deeply rooted tradition and culture to the younger generation, making them experience the heritage while also preserving the ideals of Lord Shri Ram and Hinduism.

By bringing Ramlila to the college stage, the Biyani Group of Colleges created an opportunity for students to engage with the living cultural tradition, rather than finding it only through screens.

Participating in the Ramlila offered students an opportunity to explore the story’s religious significance and moral teachings.

This initiative also reflected the importance of education that is beyond academics. The Biyani Group of Colleges acknowledges the need to incorporate moral principles and spirituality in life.

More than an act of preserving the culture, ‘Mere Ram’ was a reminder to make everyone realise that every situation can be faced with a courageous heart and a calm mind.

Values That Live Beyond the Story

Ramlila is more than a tale of a kingdom and a battle fought centuries ago; it is a reminder that values give meaning to our lives.

Shri Ram represents Maryada – the wisdom to uphold one’s duties and dharma, even when the path is difficult; to stay calm when life tests your patience; to follow the path of righteousness when everything is going wrong; and to have compassion and empathy, even if you’re a king.

Mata Sita embodies strength, dignity, resilience, and purity. Her journey reminds us to have faith and courage even when life gets difficult.

Lakshman represents the depth of loyalty and sacrifice, reminding us of the responsibilities we carry to those we stand beside.

Lord Hanuman teaches us that true devotion lies in selfless action.

These ideals are what make the Ramayana timeless. Its characters may belong to another age, but the teachings remain valid.

Beyond a story, the Ramayana is what helps us understand what it means to stand by our values when life challenges us and how to remain compassionate and fulfil our duties when things get difficult.

Perhaps this is why this sacred story of Shri Ram continues to live in our hearts across generations.

Keeping the Tradition Alive

India is a country with one of the oldest cultural heritages. Its traditions are alive, living with its people because every generation finds a reason to carry them forward. In today’s times, where life is moving quickly and most of the attention is on screens, it can be easier to know the names of ancient tales without connecting with them. That is why celebrating our soulful culture becomes important; the celebrations create moments to pause, look back, and rediscover the stories that have shaped our identity.

This is the reason that the Biyani Group of Colleges brought Ramlila to its campus. Mere Ram involved 58 students from the Journalism Department in the performance. It gave them the opportunity to engage with the religion that has been followed through generations.And this is how our religion and cultural heritage continue to live – by remaining more than ancient legends, preserved in the books; by finding a place in the hearts and lives of those who carry them forward.

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