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CCNTV6
  • 1 year ago
Swaha Hindu College did their Ram- Leela recital last weekend.


Our cameras were there and here is some of what took place.
Transcript
00:00Ram Leela literally translates to Rama's play. It's a street theater style performance of the
00:12Hindu epic the Ramayana, which includes song, narration, recital and dialogue. It's performed
00:20across northern India and is also carried on by Indian descendants in Mauritius, Africa, Fiji,
00:27Guyana, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Suriname and right here in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:34It entails the story of Lord Rama, whose wife Sita is abducted by the ten-headed demon king
00:40Ravan. With the aid of Hanuman and his monkey army, Rama besieges Ravan's kingdom and after
00:47an extraordinary battle, the evil king is destroyed and the beautiful Sita is rescued.
00:53As told by the students of Swaha College, it all begins with welcome news for the king of Ayodhya,
01:01Raja Dasarath.
01:02O Raja Dasarath, the gods have heard your prayers. You and your queens shall soon be
01:11blessed with sons who will bring glory to your kingdom.
01:14Four kings were born to Dasarath's three wives. Rama, believed to be the avatar of Lord Vishnu,
01:21was the eldest. There were celebrations in the kingdom of Ayodhya.
01:38The brothers became students of Guru Vashisht.
01:41Here you will learn the art of war, the science of governance and the values of righteousness.
01:50We are ready, Guru Vashishtha. We seek to learn and grow under your guidance.
01:55By this time in another kingdom, King Janaka became the father of Sita,
02:00the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi.
02:03Remember children, the greatest strength is not in physical prowess alone, but in the values you uphold.
02:11Integrity, compassion and justice are the true marks of a leader.
02:17King Janaka announced whoever wanted his daughter's hand in marriage
02:21would have to be able to string Pinaka, the bow of Lord Shiva.
02:25According to the Ramayana, the celestial bow of Shiva could not even be approached by selfish
02:32individuals and was not liftable by ordinary mortals. Therefore, the act of stringing the bow
02:38would be a test to distinguish the exceptional strength and virtues of one who could accomplish
02:45the feat.
02:48Stop! Stop it all! As a child, my daughter Sita could have lifted this bow.
02:56Is there no prince strong enough? Is there no warrior worthy of lifting it now?
03:01I, King Janaka of Mithila, with great sadness, announce the closing of this contest for my
03:08daughter's hand. Because there is no man on this earth who is worthy of doing it!
03:12This earth is not full of brave warriors as long as the sons of dust are alive.
03:17Please allow my brother Ram to try.
03:20This is a divine test, Ram. The bow of Shiva is no ordinary weapon. Only the worthy can wield it.
03:26I accept this challenge, Guruji. I shall do my best to honor the divine will.
03:37The duo were married.
03:42Soon, Rama was announced as the succeeding king.
03:53But his stepmother, Queen Keke's mind was poisoned by her maid, Mantara.
03:59I only want the best for you. You and your son Bharat are like family to me.
04:04And people in this palace are conspiring against you.
04:08Conspiring? What do you mean?
04:11They are saying that when Rama is crowned,
04:13Kaushalya and Sumitra will both reveal their true colors to you.
04:17They are both jealous of the king's love for you. They are jealous of you!
04:21She advised the queen to request of the king two boons granted to her
04:25when she saved his life on the battlefield.
04:29My lord, I am troubled by promises made to me years ago. I want my boons fulfilled today.
04:35I will give you the moon, the stars, anything you want.
04:39What is it that you need, my dear? Please speak to me.
04:43Do you remember when I drove your chariot to victory?
04:46When I saved your life in the war?
04:49You promised me two boons then. Two boons which I want you to fulfill for me now.
04:56Firstly, I want my son Bharat to be king. And I want your son Rama banished from Ayodhya.
05:03The king was forced to banish his beloved son Rama for 14 years.
05:08Who dares steal your boons, right? I will kill Bharat!
05:13And if Bharat steps in the way, I will kill...
05:15Calm down, Lakshman. I don't want a tainted kingdom through immoral means.
05:19Prepare for my departure. This is my order.
05:24I too will come with you.
05:25But Sita...
05:26No, Rama. I have taken a vow to be with you always. If I break my vow, I will surely die.
05:32The first night of Swaha's Ramlila ends with the three
05:36heading off to the forest, living the life of a renunciant,
05:40unaware of the battle they would soon face.
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