Ramlila as a folk theater in Bihar- A descriptive study of its performance and relevance

The art and tradition of Ramlila in Bihar‟ is the subject of my dissertation. The reason behind such a proposition is that though Ramlila in its purest form is a way to celebrate the epic of Ramayana and deals with a folk presentation form but the staging and performance is on a decline due to lack of funds, organising committees and mass exodus from villages to towns. Till the 80s, Ramlila was widely and popularly performed in all the districts of Bihar ranging from lavish sets to symbolic ones. Although the interest of audience is still there but there are not enough ways to retain it in this folk form because of the newer means of entertainment. The purpose of this study is to establish the relevance of „Ramlila‟ in today‟s times as well as its expansion in future.