📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ankit Gupta
Religion
Bihar’s Village Ramleela Stalls as Dussehra Traditions Shift
✍️ Daily Excelsior
🗓 19 Oct 2026, 04:31 AM
👁 10
In several villages across Bihar, the traditional Ram Leela performances that mark Dussehra are being abandoned, reflecting a shift in local celebrations.
Several villages in Bihar that once hosted elaborate Ram Leela dramas during Dussehra are now witnessing empty stages. Residents report that the customary enactments of Lord Rama’s life, which used to draw crowds from surrounding hamlets, have been discontinued this year.
Local observers attribute the decline to changing social preferences and the logistical burden of organizing large‑scale performances. Younger community members are reportedly opting for contemporary forms of celebration, while limited resources make it harder to sustain the traditional set‑ups.
Cultural experts note that the fading of Ram Leela in these rural areas signals a broader transformation in how Dussehra is observed in parts of the state, though the festival itself continues with other rituals and gatherings.
The silence on village stages underscores a shift away from the centuries‑old practice, prompting discussions about preserving intangible heritage in Bihar’s evolving cultural landscape.
Local observers attribute the decline to changing social preferences and the logistical burden of organizing large‑scale performances. Younger community members are reportedly opting for contemporary forms of celebration, while limited resources make it harder to sustain the traditional set‑ups.
Cultural experts note that the fading of Ram Leela in these rural areas signals a broader transformation in how Dussehra is observed in parts of the state, though the festival itself continues with other rituals and gatherings.
The silence on village stages underscores a shift away from the centuries‑old practice, prompting discussions about preserving intangible heritage in Bihar’s evolving cultural landscape.