# Ghaziabad’s 125-Year-Old Shri Sullamal Ramlila Preserves Sacred Heritage Amid Modern High-Tech Stagecraft

> Steeped in 125 years of cultural history, the historic Shri Sullamal Ramlila at Ghaziabad's Ghantaghar grounds blends state-of-the-art stage technology with time-honoured religious traditions.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Uttar Pradesh · **Published:** 2026-10-07 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/uttar-pradesh/ghaziabad-ki-125-sala-purani-shri-sullamal-ramlila-ki-pahachana-aja-bhi-barakarara-44358 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Shri Sullamal Ramlila, Ghaziabad, Ghantaghar Ramlila Ground, Dussehra Festival, Lala Sullamal, Cultural Heritage

Standing proudly at the Ghantaghar grounds in Ghaziabad, one of the region's oldest theatrical traditions continues to thrive across a remarkable span of 125 years. The Shri Sullamal Ramlila originated in an era when Ghaziabad was merely a modest township confined within four historical entry gates. Beginning on an ordinary roadway near Delhi Gate, this performance has navigated through profound urban transformations to establish its permanent home at the Ghantaghar grounds. Today, beneath towering stage sets, giant LED video walls, and sophisticated lighting rigs, the event maintains the exact devotional purity and cultural reverence that defined its humble beginnings more than a century ago.

## The Legacy of Lala Sullamal and the Mandi Ramayana
The namesake of this grand production traces back to the deeply spiritual vision of Lala Sullamal around the year 1900. Demonstrating remarkable scholarly devotion at just 20 years of age, he authored an adaptation of the Ramayana in the Mandi dialect. That literary undertaking sparked his aspiration to bring the divine narratives to life on stage, prompting him to inaugurate the public performances. In those formative years, the enactment took place directly on the street outside Mohalla Afghan, near Delhi Gate. Townspeople themselves donned the attire of Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and other epic figures. As the township gradually expanded past its four historic boundary gates, the public appeal of the production surged rapidly, transforming a neighborhood gathering into a celebrated civic fixture.

## From City Alleys to the Permanent Ghantaghar Grounds
Virendra Kumar, former president of the Shri Sullamal Ramlila Committee, reflects on this legacy with memories spanning his 82 years of life. He notes that the theatrical enactment had already been a deeply rooted local custom for several decades before his childhood. Initially mounted right in the heart of the town, the event eventually outgrew its cramped municipal quarters. Local authorities and organizers subsequently designated dedicated land at Ghantaghar to facilitate the sprawling crowds attending both the episodic drama and the grand Dussehra celebrations. Since that relocation, the grounds have remained the focal meeting point for the annual religious pageant.

## The Artistic Evolution: From Local Volunteers to Mathura and Delhi Troupes
The staging of the Ramlila has mirrored the broader evolution of Indian folk theatre. During its earliest decades, ordinary neighborhood residents stepped into the divine roles purely out of religious dedication. Over the years, professional performing troupes from Mathura were engaged, preserving an authentic regional style for several decades. In the past four to five years, skilled artists based in Delhi have taken charge of enacting the core mythological episodes. Concurrently, the physical presentation has undergone a drastic transformation: traditional painted canvas curtains and basic stages have been replaced by high-definition LED screens, acoustic sound reinforcement systems, and dynamic illumination designs.

## Preserving Sanctity Across Generations and Civic Leadership
Organizing committee members emphasize that despite embracing progressive technology, the core spiritual ethos and religious sanctity remain untouched. The integration of modern audiovisual equipment serves specifically to attract and engage younger generations, making epic moral lessons visually compelling in a digital era. While spectators historically converged on Ghantaghar as the sole performance venue in the area, the decentralization of modern Ghaziabad into multiple neighborhood stagings has slightly dispersed daily attendance. Nevertheless, massive crowds continue to pack the Ghantaghar grounds on Dussehra day. The event has also sustained enduring ties with prominent civic figures, having welcomed distinguished leaders such as Rajnath Singh alongside numerous members of parliament, state legislators, and local representatives over the decades.

## A 90-Foot Ravana Effigy and Auspicious Ceremonial Processions
Anticipation for the current festive season centres on an imposing 90-foot tall effigy of Ravana scheduled for the celebratory culmination. Ahead of the regular theatrical episodes, the traditional announcement of the festivities was heralded across the city through the symbolic Ravana Doot messenger, followed by the ceremonial Ganesh Yatra procession. Once these customary rituals conclude, daily enactments on the main stage commence in full splendour. Spanning 125 continuous years, the historic staging endures as a shining beacon of living cultural heritage amidst Ghaziabad’s rapid modern evolution.

## What this means for you
The historic Ghaziabad Ramlila highlights how regional heritage can integrate modern technology while safeguarding sacred communal traditions.

- **Across India:** Traditional cultural festivals nationwide are increasingly adopting modern digital stages to keep age-old epics accessible to younger generations. This synthesis ensures that traditional performing arts remain culturally vibrant and socially relevant.
- **In Ghaziabad:** Local residents will experience a monumental 90-foot Ravana effigy and high-tech stagecraft at the central Ghantaghar grounds. Visitors attending the celebrations should account for substantial festive crowds and local traffic diversions around the historical core.
- **For Performing Artists:** Professional troupes from Delhi and regional centres gain a prestigious platform to showcase their theatrical skills before thousands of spectators. Such established events provide essential patronage and cultural visibility for traditional stage actors.
- **For Families and Audiences:** High-definition LED setups and clear sound systems make the intricate mythological narratives easy to follow for both children and elders. Attending offers families an opportunity to connect directly with a continuous 125-year-old civic tradition.

## Why this happened
The unbroken 125-year journey of the Shri Sullamal Ramlila stems from deep community devotion combined with thoughtful adaptation over decades. Key historical milestones explain why this tradition has endured across five generations.

- **Inception by Lala Sullamal:** Around 1900, the 20-year-old Lala Sullamal composed a Ramayana adaptation in the Mandi dialect, inspiring him to dramatize the sacred text publicly. His spiritual vision established a community-driven performance that quickly became an integral civic institution.
- **Urban Growth and Relocation:** Starting on an open roadway near Delhi Gate when the town was enclosed within four historic gates, the event eventually outgrew street corners. Securing dedicated land at Ghantaghar provided the logistical space needed to host massive festive assemblies.
- **Artistic and Technological Evolution:** Transitioning from local amateur actors to professional Mathura troupes and currently Delhi artists kept production standards high. Embracing LED displays and advanced acoustics ensured that the century-old production stayed captivating for contemporary youth without compromising sacred traditions.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. How old is Ghaziabad’s Shri Sullamal Ramlila?
The historic Ramlila is approximately 125 years old, having originated around the year 1900.

### 2. Who founded the Shri Sullamal Ramlila?
It was established by Lala Sullamal, who conceived the stage production after writing an adaptation of the Ramayana in the Mandi dialect at age 20.

### 3. Where were the initial performances staged?
The initial performances took place outdoors on the street outside Mohalla Afghan, near Delhi Gate.

### 4. Which artists perform in the production currently?
Artists from Delhi have been staging the performances for the past four to five years, following earlier decades led by Mathura troupes.

### 5. What is the height of the Ravana effigy this year?
The organizing committee has planned an imposing Ravana effigy standing approximately 90 feet tall.

### 6. Which prominent public leaders have visited this Ramlila?
According to the organizing committee, prominent leaders including Rajnath Singh alongside numerous parliamentarians and legislators have attended over the years.

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