Bhopal:Sunday, April 13:First-ever International Ramayan Mela would be held at Bhopal in the last week of May by state government's Culture Department with the cooperation of Adivasi Lok Kala Parishad and Tulsi Sahitya Akademi.Simultaneous presentation of different forms of Ramlila traditions of India and styles of staging Ram Katha in South-East Asian countries would mark the Mela. Staging of Ramlila has been prevalent in those countries since long and their Ram Katha in belle form is world-famous. The Kala Mandalis (Artistes' Troupes) of Bali (Indonesia), Malaysia, Vietnam, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam are being invited to attend this Mela.Special lectures on Ramayan, recitation of Ram Katha and its staging would also be delivered on this occasion by those who are working in this field in India and South-East Asian countries. An exhibition would also be organised where masks, crowns and attires used in staging of 'Ramayan Chitra Phalak' and other styles of Ram Katha would be displayed.
It may be mentioned that Madhya Pradesh is the first state where the Culture Department had started first National Ramkatha Mela 25 years ago. All the folk styles of Ram Katha were presented at this Mela. Now this tradition is being extended on global level with International Ramayan Mela.