Caste Takes Center Stage in Chitrakoot’s Ramleela

The Ramleela of Chitrakoot, a deeply rooted cultural tradition, brings the community together every year to reenact the life of Ram, but it also reveals the caste-based biases that continue to shape its stage. While efforts to modernize Ramleelas in urban areas have emerged, Chitrakoot’s performance remains a blend of faith and exclusion. Upper-caste actors play revered roles like Ram and Sita, while those from marginalized communities are restricted to background roles. In the lead-up to the festival of Dussehra, Ramleelas—dramatic reenactments of the life of the Hindu deity Ram—are staged across northern India. These performances, based on the Ramayana and its many versions, typically unfold over ten days and culminate on Dussehra with the portrayal of Ram’s victory over