Hyderabad, 1st Feb: Day 2 of Ramayana Kalpavrksham began at dawn with a deeply absorbing Ramamrita Pravachanam on Sita Ramakalyanam by Brahmasri Chaganti Koteswara Rao. Drawing from scripture, philosophy, and lived wisdom, the discourse offered audiences a profound spiritual and cultural entry into the Ramayana.
A thought-provoking conversation between Raghava Krishna, Founder and CEO of BRHAT, and festival curator Dr. Ananda Shankar Jayant, on Restoring and Raising a Confident India. The dialogue explored the role of the arts in reclaiming and strengthening India’s civilisational narratives in a contemporary context.
Dr. Mohan Raghavan presented Technorama – Rama Rasa, examining the experience (anubhooti) of the Ramayana within the evolving world of technology. The session bridged ancient rasa theory with modern technological sensibilities, offering an interdisciplinary perspective.
Charusmitha Rao and Bharatanatyam dancer Shivaranjini Harish presented I’m F9:
Navarasa through the Ramayana, an Indic brand showcase by Coolture Designs. interspersed with Bharatantyam. The presentation interpreted the Navarasas through the narratives of the Ramayana, blending design and storytelling in a creative manner.
The evening opened with a rare puppet-style dance drama, The Ramayana, by the Rangasri Little Ballet Theatre, Bhopal. Originally premiered in 1953, this folkloristic production combined ballet and Rajasthani puppet traditions, featuring stylised movements, square masks, and vivid visual design. This production was described as “a stroke of genius” for its illusion of animated wooden puppets.
Choreographed by Shanti Bardhan, the performance traced the Ramayana from Rama’s coronation and exile to the abduction of Sita, the alliance with Sugreeva and Hanuman, and the final triumph of dharma. The production involved 19 members including artists and crew, with music composed by Bahadur Hussain Khan and Abani Dasgupta, and lyrics by Dashrath Lal Singh. The visual aesthetic was shaped through masks designed by Apuni Kartha, costumes by Gul Bardhan, set design by Hasan Premani, and lighting by Ghanshyam Gurjar. Technical coordination was managed by Prabhati Mohanta as music operator, with backstage operations overseen by Ramprakash Tripathi, and the troupe led by Nirupa Joshi.
The day concluded with a vibrant folk music performance by Bhungar Khan and the Manganiyar group from Barmer, Rajasthan. A seventh-generation Manganiyar musician, Bhungar Khan is a recipient of the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (2016) and the Rajasthan Sangeet Natak Akademi State Award (2023). Having performed in over 45 countries, he continues to preserve the Manganiyar tradition through Dharohar, an institution he founded in 2007 to train young folk musicians.