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Ramnavami Ramlila

Experience Varanasi's Dussehra celebrations of dance-dramas

For a unique take on Dussehra, experience Ramnagar’s Ramnavami Ramlila – a dramatic re-enactment of the Ramayana epic. Ramnagar is located on the other side of the river from Varanasi, and hosts the annual Ramlila tradition. The Ramlila enacts the battle of Lord Rama of Ayodhya (present-day state of Uttar Pradesh, India) and the demon Ravana of Lanka (present-day Sri Lanka). The drama is performed over a period of 10 days, as long as the legendary battle is said to have been – and ends with the burning of an effigy of Ravana, to signify the victory of good over evil.

Image Credits: Ankit Gupta, CC BY-SA 3.0

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