AYODHYA: The seers of
Ayodhya, including Mahant Dharam Das of Hanuman Garhi temple, have demanded that Bollywood actors should not be allowed to perform in Ramlilas as they do not have “moral and religious discipline”.
Seers said the artistes who perform in traditional Ramlilas follow strict discipline in their lives and people bow before them to seek blessings.
Nearly a hundred prominent seers from Ayodhya met at Bada Bhakt Maal temple, an important seat of Hindu religious studies in Ayodhya, and decided to seek an appointment from chief minister Yogi Adityanath to get the “immoral Ramlila banned”.
“There is a special tradition of Ramlila in Ayodhya. Artistes who play the roles of Lord Ram, Mata Sita and other characters in traditional Ramlila, are respected by people. We bow before them. We cannot seek blessings from Bollywood actors who don’t follow religious discipline,” said Mahant Dharam Das, the priest of Hanuman Garhi temple.
Mahant Awadhesh Das Shastri, chief priest of Bada Bhakt Maal temple, said: “We cannot tolerate such people performing in Ayodhya’s Ramlila. They consume alcohol, eat non-vegetarian food and indulge in immoral practices.”
“Last year, when Bollywood actors staged Ramlila, they wore ‘Mughaliya sherwani’ and leather shoes on the stage. How can one perform in such an indecent costume,” wondered Mahant Pawan Kumar Das Shastri, secretary of Hindu Personal Law Board.
“We want Ramlila to have the essence of ‘Sanaatan Dharm’ with elements like ‘upaasna’ (worship), ‘saadhna’ (meditation) and ‘maryada’ (dignity). We do not want film personalities who have destroyed the Hindu religion,” said Mahant Janmejay Sharan, chief priest of Bada Sthan temple.
Meanwhile, the
Ayodhya Ramlila
Committee performed bhumi pujan on the banks of river Saryu on Tuesday formally announcing that the star-studded Ram Lila would be held in the presence of UP law minister Brajesh Pathak.
Director Subhash Malik said that like last year, a grand Ram Lila would be performed this year too.
Actress Bhagyashree will enact the role of Sita in multi-starrer Ramlila. The cast will also include actors Shakti Kapoor, Arbaaz Khan, Raza Muraad, Asrani, Avtar Gill and Vindu Dara Singh.
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