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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has taken up the cause of Lord Ram in his native land.

It has asked the Culture Department here to submit a proposal on how 'Ramlila' can be revived and culturally preserved as an art form. The department has been asked to submit the proposal as soon as possible so that funds can be released for the project.

“A team from Unesco had visited Ayodhya recently where it saw Ramlila and liked the art and the story behind it. The team recorded the whole performance and even interacted with the artistes. The team was of the view that since it was one of the dying arts of India, they wanted to store it in their library,” said Dr YP Singh, Director of the Ayodhya Shodh Sansthan.  .

The Ayodhya Shodh Sansthan, a part of the Culture Department, has been organising  Ramlila in Ayodhya for more than 1000 consecutive days now. It started on May 20, 2004 and since then it is being staged everyday. “The specialty is that around 25 different types of Ramlilas are being staged here,” Dr Singh said

The Unesco team now wants information on the groups performing Ramlila and about people who have knowledge about the art and can do some research.

The amount the Unesco is ready to spend is Rs 5 crore, say sources in the department.  The present budget that the Sansthan gets is meager, which makes it difficult for them to function. They get a budget of about Rs 23 lakh per annum in which they have to perform all the functions.

“If all goes well then it is possible that this dying art will be revived and the artistes get benefited,” said Dr Singh, who has been named as one of the experts in the Ramlila revival team by the Unesco.

The Ramlila that is performed at the Tulsi Smarak Auditorium, Ayodhya, is staged in more than 25 different styles, each spanning for about 15 days. For example, the Bundelkhandi Ramlila is staged for 15 days and then for another 15 days it is the turn of a Chattisgarh Ramila. Some of the Ramlilas that are quite appreciated are Awadhi, Maithili, Assamese, Bhojpuri, Braj, Karnatak and a Ramlila performed through puppets. A calendar is prepared right in the beginning of the year which informs as to when which group would perform. In each group there are about 30 performers.