Prisoners perform Ramlila inside Varanasi’s Central Jail

Inmates at Varanasi Central Jail are performing Ramlila for the 15th year, with roles assigned thoughtfully by jail staff, blending reform and devotion as part of Dussehra celebrations.

Varanasi: As the festive spirit of Dussehra sweeps across India, even the high walls of Varanasi’s Central Jail are resonating with chants of Lord Ram. In a unique initiative blending tradition with reform, prisoners serving life sentences or long-term imprisonment are performing the age-old epic of Ramlila within the jail premises.

This is not a one-off event. For the past 15 years, the Central Jail has hosted its own Ramlila, with inmates playing every role — from Lord Ram and Goddess Sita to King Ravana and Lord Hanuman.

The performance begins on the first day of Navratri and culminates with the symbolic burning of Ravana’s effigy on Dussehra. Preparations start as early as July, turning the prison into a stage of devotion and redemption.

Senior Jail Superintendent Radha Krishna Mishra said: “We have been organising Ramlila since 2010–11. Prisoners are carefully selected for roles, and regular rehearsals are conducted. They not only perform with sincerity but truly bring the Ramayana to life.”

Interestingly, the jail doctor helps assign parts to inmates based on their behaviour, voice modulation, and personality — making the casting process both thoughtful and creative.

Ramlila, a performance of the Ramayana through song, narration, recital, and dialogue, is a celebrated tradition across northern India during Dussehra. The staging at Varanasi Central Jail follows the Ramacharitmanas, composed by Tulsidas in the 16th century to make the Sanskrit epic accessible in Hindi.

Across India, Ramlilas range from 10 to 12 days, while the grand Ramnagar Ramlila near Varanasi extends for an entire month. The performances recall Lord Ram’s battle with Ravana and are seen as a spiritual, cultural, and moral guide for society.