"Religion
is no bar when it comes to participation in Ram Lila." This was stated
by Md. Sultan Ghazi. Ram Lila is among the few examples which still
highlights Unity in Diversity. Md. Sultan is the secretary of the
Mausamganj Ram Lila committee. Mausamganj is a suburb of Lucknow city
known for its celebration of the festival of Dussehra. The city has
many examples of Muslim volunteers in the Ram Lila festivities.
Elaborating the importance of the festival for him, Sultan says:
"Since my childhood, I am witnessing my family members and close
relatives participating in the festival. There is no communal gap
between the two communities. We are organising shows during Dussehra;
my Hindu friends are also very involved in our festivals." Nadira
Khatoon has also been co-ordinating the Ram Lila for the past few
decades. She is among the well-known organisers of Ram Lila in Lucknow.
"This only gives us self satisfaction that people of this part of the
country are away from misunderstandings," she said.
But among the Ram Lila shows, that of Bakhshi Ka
Talab area in the State capital has its own importance. All the
characters in the Ram Lila are played by Muslims. Salim plays Lord
Rama, Ashwaq plays Lakshman and Gufran Bhai plays the role of Ravana.
Elaborating their preparations for the festival, Salim says: "We all
start practising for the Ram Lila almost a month before Dussehra. It
is the personal commitment of every one of us that the show be
successful every year. " The group does not take any financial help
from anyone; they all contribute themselves to present a Ram Lila,
which is an example of love and unity among the people of this part of
our country. The celebration of every festival in India has its own
significance but this mixing of the communities during Dussehra is
surely a message of peace and humanity.
