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Home > Lifestyle News > Culture News > Article > Let your kids enjoy an interactive retelling of the Ramayana in Mumbai

Let your kids enjoy an interactive retelling of the Ramayana in Mumbai

Updated on: 23 September,2017 10:10 AM IST  |  Mumbai
Snigdha Hasan |

Hand-crafted puppets and Ravana with balloon heads await kids at an interactive retelling of the Ramayana

Let your kids enjoy an interactive retelling of the Ramayana in Mumbai

Kids help Sahba Bhandula (left) set Rama and Sita on sail
Kids help Sahba Bhandula (left) set Rama and Sita on sail


A basket of fruit is passed around among the young audience, as Lord Rama and Sita pluck berries from a tree while on vanvaas. And as Sita chases the golden deer through a narrow alley amidst the spectators, their little eyes widen in wonder. True to tradition, Lord Rama's victory over Ravana is also celebrated by shooting arrows at his effigy - this one has balloon heads - as the kids join the vanar sena temporarily. Who doesn't like pricking balloons, after all? That's how this version of Ramleela unfolds.


Kids burst the balloon heads
Kids burst the balloon heads


"The city has a lot to offer children aged five and above, but toddlers aren't as lucky. Moreover, most kids grow up with English rhymes, admiring Disney characters. Through Ramleela: Relive the Story, we want to nurture ethnic pride among children, making Indian references accessible and relatable along with keeping this rich oral tradition alive," shares Pratiksha Seth, one of the directors of Grooming Babies, an initiative that curates engaging content for children.

Sita in Ashok Vatika
Sita in Ashok Vatika

In its fifth year, the puppet drama has had over 100 houseful shows. It also won a state-level award last year. The show is hosted by veteran puppeteer and academician Sahba Bhandula along with puppeteer and storyteller Dr Pooja Jain. "Fine features don't work with such a young age group. So, this time, the puppets are slightly bigger," says Bhandula, who has crafted her own puppets and is also the lead narrator. "It's not just telling a tale, it's about keeping the little ones engaged. For instance, to introduce the context of King Dashratha's promise, we ask kids if they keep their promise of going to bed on time," she adds.

To help them retain what they see, a puppet kit is provided to the young viewers in the end. They are asked to create their own puppets and retell the story to friends and family.

"It's not about teaching mythology to children. We want to aid raising emotionally secure individuals, with high self-esteem," says Seth. The team, which has also staged a dance drama of Tagore's Chitrangada using ballet and Indian classical dance, among other productions, is now working on Munshi Premchand's classic, Eidgah. "In the age of instant gratification, how do you believe you have enough? Nobody could have given a more beautiful answer to this question than Premchand," Seth concludes.

On: Today, 10.30 am (till October 14 at multiple venues)
At: Creative Minds, Gokuldham, Goregaon East
Log on to: bookmyshow.com
Entry: Rs 400

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