Kusum Sharma’s Ramleela Enthralls Audience

By Thara Narsimhan

HOUSTON: Sanatan Hindu Center congratulates Kusum Sharma and Kalakriti Performing Arts for yet another successful Ram Leela enactment 2013 production. The amazing performance included 150 participants. A lot of effort and planning made this artistic presentation an entertainment for the eyes, mind and soul. The show was beautifully presented at Cullen Hall, University of Houston with amazing rich costumes, brilliant pyrotechnics, remarkable choice of characters and excellent turnout. It takes a lot of effort and extra hard work and Kusum Sharma’s passion for production showed off well.

One can witness the Ramayana any number of times, as it is the story of Divine Avatar born as human being and the journey of life in the path of upholding Dharma or righteousness. Lord Rama is a symbol of chivalry and virtue and in the words of Swami Vivekananda “the embodiment of truth, of morality, the ideal son, the ideal husband, and above all, the ideal king.”

A lamp lighting ceremony was performed as an auspicious beginning. Chief Guest P. Harish, Consul General of India and his wife Nandita Parvathaneni along with event Sponsors, Donors and Hindu community leaders did the honors. Padmakant Khambati gave brief introduction of the event as well as introduced the dignitaries. Sunil Thakkar of Music masala welcomed all on behalf of Kalakriti Performing Arts. Kusum Sharma said that she took pride in presenting Ram Leela year after year as a community event with participation by over 100+ Houstonians. She thanked all those who attended and those who sponsored the event. Kusum Sharma’s Shri Natraj School of Dance has been conducting Ramleela since 2005 in Houston. Over the years Shri Natraj has teamed up with many organizations in Houston including Sanatan Hindu center, Shri Radha Krishna Temple who provided their hall for practice sessions, Hindus of Greater Houston, Gaudiya Math, Indian Culture Center and many others to bring Ramleela to Houston. This year Shri Natraj School of dance, Kalakriti Performing Arts brought out Ramleela with brand new episodes and spectacular effects.Yes! Ramleela is Indian Culture, Myhtology and religion but in every scene elements included story, acting, and dances. Colossal Preproduction efforts, props and costume preparation and several months of rehearsal went into the Ram Leela 2013 production. The celebration of victory of good over evil was concluded with the traditional chanting and group dance of “Hanuman Chalisa” just like it happens even today in small villages of India whenever Ram Leela is performed.
Ramleela 2014 will be held at same location by Kalakriti Performing Arts & Kusum Sharma’s Shri Natraj School on Oct 18th 2014.