Ramnagar

Fortified city just south and across the
Ganges from the sacred city of Benares
in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The
Maharajas of Benares built their fort on
this site because it was relatively easy to
defend, and continue to live there,
although they no longer possess ruling
power. Ramnagar is famous as the site of
the oldest and most traditional Ram Lila,
a production of the epic Ramayana
dramatized in a month of nightly
shows. Aside from sponsoring this Ram
Lila and underwriting its costs, the
royal family also continues to play an
important symbolic role in the production itself. For further information see
Anuradha Kapur, Actors, Pilgrims,
Kings, and Gods, 1990.