Lucknow: A robotic elephant, LED screens to magnify images and amplify the sounds, and the use of horses and camels make the ongoing Ramlila at Aishbagh all the more spectacular and impactful.Devotees are turning up in large numbers to witness Ramotsav 2026, being staged at the historic Aishbagh Ramlila ground. The event began on Sunday and will continue till Oct 22. The tradition of Ramlila in Aishbagh is over 500 years old.A 50-member troupe from Kolkata is presenting episodes from the Ramayan through traditional storytelling, powerful dialogues and an enhanced stage presentation.The production, directed by Bhaskor Bose, blends the familiar narrative with crisp dialogue delivery, improved lighting, better sound arrangements and upgraded facilities for the audience. To accommodate more visitors, organisers have increased the seating capacity from 7,000 to 7,500 this year.A major highlight of this year’s Ramotsav will be a 12-foot-tall robotic elephant brought from Delhi, which will lead the procession. The elephant will be operated electrically with the help of a generator and is expected to be among the key attractions for devotees and visitors at the venue.Committee vice-president Shubham Agarwal said special AI-based presentations on Ramayan would be organised on Oct 17, 18, 19 and 20 and will include visual effects and special sound arrangements. They will be held before the regular Ramlila performance on the designated days. “A 70-foot-tall moving effigy of Ravan will be burnt on Dussehra, Oct 20,” he said.The organisers said animals such as horses and camels would also be part of the celebrations, adding to the traditional grandeur of the staging. Upgraded sound systems and LED television screens have been installed across the venue so that devotees seated towards the rear are able to enjoy the performance too. Fans, coolers and drinking water facilities have also been arranged to ensure the comfort of visitors.Director Bhaskor Bose said the focus this year was on retaining the sanctity of the epic while improving the dramatic impact of the staging. “Since the plot of Ramayan is known to everyone, we cannot change the story, but we have introduced crisp and impactful dialogues that will make a positive impression on viewers,” he said. After evening aarti, devotees are being served laddoos and fruits as prasad.The celebrations will culminate with a grand procession on Oct 22. The procession will feature 25 chariots carrying tableaux of Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, Lord Ganesh, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati and Lord Hanuman. It will start from Aishbagh Ramleela ground and pass through Yellow Colony, Water Works Road, Murtuza Hussain Road, Raja Bazaar, Rakabganj and Nadan Mahal, before concluding at Dharm Dhwaj Temple.
