Prayagraj: The cultural evening of Deepawali Shilp Mela on Friday was dedicated to the tales of Ramayana, the sweetness of Birha and classical tunes. Somewhere the tale of the ideals and dignity of Lord Shri Ram came alive on the stage, while somewhere the melodious presentations of folk songs and tunes mesmerized the audience. Organized by the North Central Zone Cultural Center, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, this cultural evening was inaugurated by the chief guest Prof. Anand Kumar Srivastava (Retd.), CMP Degree College, Prayagraj, Deputy Director of the Center Dr. Mukesh Upadhyay and Advisor Kalpana Sahay by jointly lighting the lamp.

The cultural evening featured “Shri Ramleela – Gatha Maryada Ki,” presented by Parampara Arts, Chandigarh. Written by Jai Prakash Bhatt and directed by Abhishek Sharma, the actors brought to life key events from Lord Rama’s life through powerful acting, dialogue, and music. The scenes from the Rama-Ravana war, along with various episodes from the Ramayana, filled the audience with special enthusiasm. The presentation conveyed the message of truth, righteousness, sacrifice, and dignity.

Govind Pal and his team then gave a wonderful performance of Birha singing. They added a touch of folk music to their rendition of “Jeen Chhanan-Chhanan Chhankawa, Mor Jiyara Tarsawa.” Their performance captivated the audience with the joy of folk tunes.

Meanwhile, Omkar Singh and his team enthralled the cultural evening with their classical singing. They mesmerized the audience with their renditions of “Mera Man Bandh Leino Re, Bas Me Kino Chatur Sugadh Saanwaro,” “Tu Jag Me Sharam Rakh Meri,” and “Saanwari Surtiya Dekhi.” Chandravati Shukla then added a touch of folk culture to the program with her captivating rendition of folk songs. The program was hosted by Dr. Abha Madhur.