Obscenity on stage during enactment of epic ‘Ramayana’ sparks row in Odisha’s Ganjam

A village in Ganjam district has been rocked by controversy after alleged obscene acts were recently performed during a stage play of the epic ‘Ramayana’. The incident occurred in Maulabhanaja village under Digapahandi police limits, sources said on Sunday.

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According to the sources, the ‘Seeta Harana’ scene of the epic play was being enacted when the performer portraying Ravana crossed all limits of decency, forgetting the sanctity of a mythological drama.

The actor was allegedly seen semi-undressed on stage and behaving inappropriately with a female performer. Despite the play being based on a revered epic, more than 50 item dancers were included, turning the performance into what many described as an excessively vulgar display.

Both the artistes and organisers abandoned all sense of responsibility in the name of entertainment, some eyewitnesses stated.

Videos of the performance are circulating on social media platforms, though large portions are deemed unfit for public viewing.

Widespread condemnation has followed, with residents demanding strict action. However, no reaction has come yet from the performers or event organisers concerned.

“Ramayana was previously performed with devotion and in a spiritual environment. People were learning something from the epic play, such as the essence of social living. It was being performed in a healthy atmosphere and was helpful for character building of the people,” a senior journalist of the district, Rabindra Kumar Mishra, expressed.

“Youngsters are getting more attracted to vulgar performances on the stage these days. If not curbed well ahead of time, such violent as well as obscene performances could have an adverse impact on society,” senior journalist Mishra added.

Echoing a similar view, a noted national-level artiste from the district, Rajgopal Padhy, said, “Ganjam is an artiste-rich district and is often regarded as the Entudisala (cradle) of performing arts. However, to substantially increase the number of viewers, organisers are at times inviting different girls to perform vulgar dance on the stage.”

“This illegal activity should be dealt with hard-handedly,” Rajgopal Padhy rued.

Reported By: Satya