Russia to Host Grand Ramlila on February 20; Russian Artists to Portray Key Roles

Ayodhya / Moscow: The grandeur of Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir and the Diwali celebrations is set to travel beyond borders, as a spectacular Ramlila will be staged in Moscow, Russia, on February 20. Russian artists, who have previously performed in Ayodhya, will enact the epic with major roles assigned to local talent: Evgeny as Ram, Daria as Sita, Murat as Lakshman, and Dmitri as Hanuman. This cultural event draws inspiration from the famed Diwali festival in Ayodhya and is being hailed as a new chapter in India-Russia cultural relations.

The Ramlila is being organized in collaboration with the Indian Embassy and the Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre (JNCC) in Moscow. The main organizer is the Indo-Russian friendship organization ‘Disha’, led by Dr. Rameshwar Singh, who emphasized that the event is not merely a religious performance but conveys universal messages of truth, morality, and ideal living, sparking considerable interest among Russian audiences.

Since the Diwotsav celebrations in Ayodhya gained global recognition after Yogi Adityanath became Chief Minister, Russian artists have been invited to perform, witnessing firsthand the spectacular imagery of Ayodhya lit up with millions of lamps.

India and Russia share a long-standing cultural bond, with Ramlila performances dating back to the 1960s, when Soviet actor Padma Shri Gennady Mikhailovich Pechenikov staged Ramlila in Moscow, fostering emotional and cultural ties between the two nations. This upcoming event is expected to further strengthen this enduring friendship.