Ram Leela: Intangible Heritage, Significance and Conservation Efforts

This report provides an overview of Ram Leela, a performing art form based on the Ramayana, and its significance as an intangible cultural heritage. It details the art form's history, its impact on Indian and South-East Asian cultures, and the criteria used by UNESCO to recognize it. The report also offers recommendations for the conservation of Ram Leela, including establishing committees, providing financial assistance to artists, launching awareness campaigns, and organizing competitions. The references include various scholarly articles and publications that support the information presented. The report highlights the importance of preserving this cultural tradition for future generations and provides a comprehensive understanding of Ram Leela's historical and cultural importance.

Ram Leela
INTANGIBLE HERITAGE

What is Ram Leela
“Ram Leela” is a performing art. It is a
theatrical presentation of Indian scripture
Ramayana.
The significance of this art form in Indian sub
continental region is very high because the
performance is based on the scriptural history
of India.
The Ramleela celebrations were announced by
UNESCO as one of the "Intangible Cultural
Heritage of Humanity" in 2008

Elements of Significance
The Ramayana has gone through hundreds of
years and human advancements in the Indian
inception and culture. Its impact has been on
each living being in India, as well as nearly the
entire of South-East Asia (Yousof, 2015).
Ram Leela which is the theatrical
representation of Ramayan has been the
source of spirituality, entertainment, morality
and lifestyle for crores of rural Indians
throughout ages.

Criterions of UN to assert Ram
Leela as intangible heritage
“To represent a masterpiece of human creative
genius.”
“To bear a unique or at least exceptional
testimony to a cultural tradition or to a
civilization which is living or which has
disappeared.”
“To be directly or tangibly associated with
events or living traditions, with ideas, or with
beliefs, with artistic and literary works of
outstanding universal significance.”

Recommendations for
Conservation for the art form
Establishing committees to formulate policy to
safeguard and preserve the art form.
Providing financial assistance to the artists
who are performing.
Launching awareness campaigns to raise the
interest of the general population.
To start competitions at state and national
level among Ram Leela performance groups
and give them financial rewards.

References and Bibliography
Jafa, N. (2012). Performing Heritage: Art of Exhibit Walks. SAGE Publications India.
Mahabir, K., & Chand, S. J. (2015). The phenomenon of Ramleela/Ramlila theatre in Trinidad. Nidan:
International Journal for Indian Studies, 27(1_2), 1-21.
Oswald, P. (2016). The Ramayana. Oberon Books.
Saha, S. (2016). Performing Alternative Ramayana: A study of the (re) presentation and (re) reading of the
Epic in Modern Bengali Theatre.
Singh, N. (2015). Oral Tradition and Performative World of Ramlila in Odisha.
Srivastava, S., & Jha, V. (2015). Religious, NonReligious and the Changing Consciousness of the
Ramlila. Consciousness, Literature & the Arts, 16(2).
Yousof, G. S. (2015). Southeast Asian Adaptations of the Ramayana and their Use in the Indonesian-
Malaysian Shadow Play with Special Reference to Characterization. Malaysian Journal of Performing and
Visual Arts, 1(1), 39-51.

Thank You