Shree Ramleela Folk at the village

Rama is one of the many popular figures and deities in Hinduism. Most of the details about the life of Shree-Rama come from the “Ramayan” a great Indian epic. Rama is known as “Maryada Purusottam” an inspirational figure to people across the Indian sub-continent. Shree-Ramaleela is a folk theatre performed across the country in numerous local languages. In Odisha, this festival is celebrated in the month of Chaitra (March-April), sukla-paksha navami, the day of Rama’s birthday. This is a culture of Odisha in the social and religious life of people. Mangalajodi is an olden village under Tangi block in Khurda district, where some rites and rituals which reflect the importance of Rama katha. On the eve of the “Shree-Rama Nvami” festival, the people of this village performed the story of Ramayan. Shree-Ramaleela folk theatre consisted in seven parts (Sata Kanda) of “Ramayan” and has been the subject of art, culture, music and dances etc. Wood masks of Banara sena and Asura sena use by the actors of the folk theatre to perform the story of Shree-Ramaleela. “Agnee Parikshya and Ramavisheka Utschab” is the last day play of Shree-Ramaleela folk theatre. Shree-Ramaleela folk theatre is a most important aspect of ritual beliefs among the people of village Mangalajodi in their local imagination.