Ayodhya Increases Remuneration for Ramleela Artists; Payments Doubled After Previous Cuts

Ayodhya: The remuneration for artists performing in the Anvarat Ramleela program in Ayodhya has been increased, with payments for participating troupes now doubled. The program, organized by the International Ramayana and Vedic Research Institute, aims to enhance the quality of the Ramleela performances by selecting higher-standard troupes.

Under the new structure, troupes are categorized into two classes, with corresponding payments of Rs 17,500 and Rs 25,000 per troupe for a 15-day performance. CEO Ashutosh Dwivedi explained that artists in standard troupes will receive Rs 700 per artist, while artists in national-level troupes will be paid Rs 1,000 each. Previously, remuneration was set at Rs 8,500 per troupe, which was considered insufficient.

Improved Facilities and Budget
Performances of the Anvarat Ramleela are held at the newly constructed Tulsi Smarak Bhavan, which provides enhanced facilities for artists. Visiting troupes are provided accommodation, meals, and travel allowances. To support these improvements, the Department of Culture has increased the annual budget for the program from Rs 40 lakh to Rs 1 crore.

History of the Program
The Anvarat Ramleela was first launched in 2004 but was suspended for two and a half years during the Akhilesh Yadav government due to budget constraints. Following the swearing-in of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in 2017, the continuous staging of the Ramleela was resumed and has continued since then.

Selection of Troupes
A selection committee, chaired by the district magistrate, chooses 26 troupes annually for the program. Each troupe performs consecutively for 15 days, ensuring continuous staging throughout the year. Two additional troupes are also maintained to prevent any disruption in the performance schedule.