The 9th Ramayana Dance Drama
On Saturday, October 10, 2009, The International Ramayana Institute of North America (IRINA) hosted the "The 9th Ramayana Dance Drama"at Northeastern Illinois University. The performance feature dancers by:
- Indonesia Performing Arts Chicago
- Mudra Dance Academy
- Thai Cultural and Fine Arts Institute
The 9th Ramayana Dance Drama
Scene 1. The Abduction of Sita
In exile from Ayodha, for 12 years Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Lhaksmana were living peacefully in Dhadanka Forest. Until one day the evil giant Rahvana saw the beautiful Sita and fell in love with her. Rahvana told his assistant Maricha who has the ability of changing himself into any form to help him abduct Sita. Maricha then took the form a beautiful golden deer and began to graze near Sita. Sita was attracted towards the golden deer and requested Rama to get it for her. Rama hurriedly instructed Lakshrnana to look after Sita and ran after the deer. Very soon Rama realized that the deer is not a real one. He shot an arrow which hit the deer and Maricha was exposed. Before dying, Maricha imitated Rama's voice Sita heard the voice and asked Lakshmana to run and rescue Rama. Lakshrnana was hesitant. He was confident that Rama is invincible and the voice was only a fake. He tried to convince Sita but she insisted. Finally Lakshrnana agreed. Before his departure, he drew a magic circle, with the tip of his arrow, around the cottage and asked her not to cross the line. From his hiding place Ravana was watching all that was happening. He was glad that his trick worked. As soon as he found Sita alone, he disguised himself as an oldman and came near Sita's cottage. He stood beyond the protection line of Lakshmana, and asked for some water. Sita came out of the magic circle and he quickly pounced on Sita and seized her hands. Very soon Ravana's chariot left the ground and flew over the clouds on way to Lanka. Rama felt distressed when he saw Lakshmana on his way home. Lakshmana tried to explain the situation when both brothers suspected a foul play and ran towards the cottage. The cottage was empty, as they feared. They searched, and called out her name but all in vain. Finally they were exhausted. Lakshmana tried to console Rama as best as he could. Jatayu, the mighty king of eagles is flying free in the sky. Jatayu sees the demon Rahvna abducting Sita and attempts to save her. Jatayu attack Rahvana and successfully take Sita from Rahvana. Rahvana is outraged by the attacked and Rahwana is now asking for a duel. Rahvana is too strong and mortally wounded Jatayu. Rama & Lhaksmana heard a cry. They ran towards the source and found a wounded eagle Jatayu lying at the floor. With great pain, Jatayu narrated what had happen to him. After heard the whole story Rama toldJatayu that it best for him to end Jatayu's life and send him back to heaven. AsJatayu's soul left for heaven Rama tells his brother to continue search for his beloved wife Sita and Lhaksmana agree to comes and help his brother.
Scene 2. The fight between Sugreeva and Vall
In the Hindu epic Ramayana, Prince Rama, first born son of Dasharatha, defeats Ravana, king of Lanka and rescues his beloved Sita. Ravana, under the guise of a sage, deceives Sita as she crosses the Rekha drawn by Laksmana to protect. Upon Sita crossing the Rekha, Ravana shows his true form and kidnaps her. Jatayu, the nephew of Garuda, hears her pleas for help. Jatayu fought valiantly with Ravana but was unable to defeat him. Rama and Lakhsman chanced upon Jatayu in which he informs them of the fight between him and the demon king Ravana. Rama, still grief-stricken from the kidnapping of his wife, is searching the forests when a monkey runs to them asking who they are. Rama introduces himself and Lakshman stating they are sons of King Dasharatha. Hanuman upon hearing that it is Rama standing in front of him, gives pranam, and introduces himself and Sugreeva. Rama asks if they have seen Sita who was kidnapped by a demon king." Sugreeva gives to Rama jewels which were found in the forest. As Rama and Lakshman gaze upon the jewels, their hearts break for they know the jewels belong to their beloved Sita.Sugreeva promises to help Rama search for Sita if Rama will grant a request. Sugreeva had lost his kingdom to his brother Vali, king of Kishkindha. Rama accepted him as his friend and promised to eliminate Vali. A fight ensues between Sugreeva and Vali. During the fight Rama shoots, ending the life of mighty Vali with a powerful arrow. With Sugreeva reinstated as the king a friendship blossoms and Sugreeva returns the favor and helps in the search for Sita. In their mission to find Sita, Jambuwanta, a bear, also came to help them. As all the monkeys searched, Hanuman began to meditate and became aware of his physical powers bestowed to him by God. Hanuman made himself big and tall and flew to distant Lanka. Upon landing he began his search for Sita. Just then Hanuman heard shouts of 'Lankapati Ki Jai Ho - Victory to King Ravana', Hanuman saw Ravana approaching the garden. He jumped up the tree under which Sita was seated and observed the proceedings. Ravana addressed Sita thus: "Why do you keep saying the name of Rama? Stop saying his name. What good it does?" Sita in her love and adoration of Rama replies, "If you come to me, you will burn as this blade of grass." Ravana, angered by this reply walked off. When Ravana left, Hanuman decided to present himself before Sita. He gives Sita the ring bearing the name and seal of Rama in the lap of Sita. She beckoned Hanuman to come down. With folded hands, Hanuman presented himself before Mother Sita, tears pouring down his eyes. He described how Rama was also suffering the pangs of separation. He assured Sita that soon Rama would come, conquer Ravana and take her back. Taking leave of Sita, hungry Hanuman satisfied himself by uprooting trees and eating the fruits. The guards arrested Hanuman. Ravana ordered his guards to tie a long cloth to his tail and set it on fire. Hanuman by his special power increased the length of his tail by many yards and set fire to Lanka. Hanuman flew by back to his friends Rama and Lakshman who were eagerly waiting for his return. The news of Sita was received with jubilation. On advice from Jambuwantu to Rama to pray to Lord Shiva, Rama praises Shiva by performing Lingashktkam. Soon after, Rarna and the monkey army started building the bridge by writing the name of Lord Rama on the rocks. The rocks floated to the top of the water forming the bridge. They walked across the bridge in preparation for war with Ravana.
Scene 3. Construction of the Causeway to Longka
Rama decides to build a causeway to Longka to facilitate an attack. He charges Sukreep, the monkey king, and Hanurnan with the task. The construction progresses but as fast as Hanuman and his monkey troops throw the stones into the sea, they are all removed by the mermaid Suphannamatcha, acting on her father, Thotsakan's (Ravana), orders. Hanurnan finds out how the stones have disappeared and catches Suphannamatcha. He courts her until she agrees to become his wife. The causeway is then completed within the time limit.
| Comments |
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."
thai-restaurants
Activity Stream
Latest Discussion
Latest Members
CSS Valid | XHTML Valid | Top
