Gaur, Bagga families devoted to playing Ramlila characters for half a century now

Rajinder Nagarkoti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 5

Staging Ramlila might be only a 10-day affair for some artistes, but some families had been doing it year after year for four-five decades. Their legacy continues with the third generation now taking to the stage.

Meet the family of Bhagwati Prasad Gaur, 61, general secretary of Kendriya Ramlila Mahasabha, who is associated with Ramlila since 1960. His two grandsons and a granddaughter are taking part in Ramlila this year.

Gaur’s elder son Deepak, who is playing the role of Lord Rama in Garhwal Ramlila and Sanskritik Mandal, Sector 22-C, said his two younger brothers also played various roles, including that of Lord Rama and Lakshmana in the past.

“Now my son Raghav, 7, daughter Gungun, 4, and nephew Gatik, 3, are also participating in Ramlila and playing the childhood roles of Lord Rama and other characters. Ramlila runs in our blood,” said Deepak Gaur, 37, an employee in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.

Deepak’s younger brother Ajay Gaur is the director of the Ramlila.

Similarly, there is a family of Rajinder Bagga, a Limca book record holder for the family’s involvement in Ramlila. Bagga, who started portraying the character of Lord Rama in 1981, after the death of his father Sohan Lal Bagga (who essayed the Lord’s role for nearly 20 years), said his son Gaurav was carrying forward the family legacy and playing the role from the past several years.

Rajinder, an assistant director of Sri Ramlila Committee, Sector 17, said his brother Rajesh Bagga and nephew Varun Bagga also played various parts like those of Shravan and Bharat.

Meet entire family involved in Ramlila

Meet Yashpal Kumar’s family, whose all members are involved in activities of Garhwal Ramleela Mandal Bijli Board, Sector 28. Yashpal Kumar, 45, is in the management committee and has played various characters in Ramlila since the age of 10. His wife Kiran Tiwari is helping female artistes in their make-up and dressing. His two kids Anushka Tiwari, 15, and Himanshu Tiwari, 18, are playing various characters like Shabri, Nal and Parshuram’s brother this time.