Ravana Chhaya
- November 23, 2020
Illustration: ACK Design Team
Ravana Chhaya or Ravana’s Shadow is a form of puppetry that belongs to Orissa and is based on the Vichitra Ramayana written by Vishwanath Khuntia, sometime between 1692 and 1720.
To receive more such stories in your Inbox & WhatsApp, Please share your Email and Mobile number.
In this puppetry show, Ravana’s character is seen as larger than the others and assumes a dignified form. The story is dramatised in seven episodes, each representing one ‘kand’ of the Ramayana. 700 puppets are needed for the performance, which happens over a week with one episode played out each night. The puppets are 6 to 8 inches tall and their shadows are cast on a white sheet using the light from an oil lamp.
To receive more such stories in your Inbox & WhatsApp, Please share your Email and Mobile number.
Related Articles
Comic of The Month
The Sons of Rama
The story of Rama and Sita was first set down by the sage Valmiki in his epic poem 'Ramayana.' Rama was the eldest son of Dasharatha, the king of Ayodhya, who had three wives - Kaushalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra. Rama was the son of Kaushalya, Bharata of Kaikeyi and Laxmana and Shatrughna of Sumitra. The four princes grew up to be brave and valiant. Rama won the hand of Sita, the daughter of King Janaka. Dasharatha wanted to crown Rama as the king but Kaikeyi objected. Using boons granted to her by Dasharatha earlier, she had Rama banished to the forest. Sita and Laxmana decided to follow Rama. While in the forest, a Rakshasi, Shoorpanakha, accosted Laxmana but had her nose cut off by him. In revenge, her brother Ravana, king of Lanka, carried Sita away. Rama and Laxmana set out to look for her and with the help of an army of monkeys, defeated Ravana. On returning Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile, Rama banished Sita because of the suspicions of his subjects. In the ashrama of sage Valmiki, she gave birth to her twin sons, Luv and Kush.
20 Minute Read
