Ramayana - Story of our times

By: Poonam Naik

After months of lockdown, you can enjoy this incredible and wonderful doll display covering 24 scenes with over 300 carefully crafted and handmade dolls which has been designed by Giri and is presented by the Hindu Council of Australia with support from Liverpool City Council and Casula Powerhouse. The visual and colourful impact of the dolls will draw the attention of young and older minds alike, drawing you in to focus on the valuable traits of Rama. This exhibition will not only inspire but also help viewers to consider their life goals in a harmonious way.

Ramayana, the life history of Rama is the conscience of Hindu culture, the fulcrum of its tradition. Rama, the model of human excellence and the personification of righteousness. The earliest known recording of this story is 5th Century B.C with events dating back a lot further.

This story has inspired the people of the east for centuries. The story of Lord Rama has influenced Nepalese poetry, Cambodian sculpture, Indonesian architecture, Malaysian plays, Sinhalese novels, and India’s way of life. One reason for the popularity of Lord Rama is his immaculate character which was narrated and was passed on to adults and kids alike in the form of plays, musicals, dance-dramas, and doll displays during Navaratri and Deepavali.

This exhibition aims to give a similar experience of the Ramayana tradition to the wider Australian youth and adults who may want to explore the Indian culture and art form.

This exhibition is a Golu. A Golu is a festive, eye catching display of dolls and figurines that depict important stories from Hinduism.

The Ramayana is a practical primer for leading a spiritual life. The various episodes in this story exist as examples of how to fulfill one’s duty or dharma. Its high drama, calamitous love story and cunning strategies to defeat evil contain many lessons for ordinary humans. Some are lessons about Hindu culture while others help us understand the true meaning of love, devotion, courage, bravery and friendship.

The Ramayana is sung as lullabies for toddlers, told as stories in classrooms, used as reference for governance and management and explored and debated over by many scholars

and philosophers. It has also provided inspiration for many great films, television series and stage plays. The stage plays are enacted all year around in many countries such as India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia.

In north part of India, Ram Leela’s which are staged dance drama musicals are played everywhere. The exhibition was followed by cultural dance and music show scripting each of the 24 exhibits in dance and drama style. Reminded me of my days from Delhi when watching Bhartiya Kala Kendra’s act of Ramayana was almost have to see it once in a life time list of things to do.

In South part of India, besides the rangoli and sweets, some people decorate homes with traditional clay figurines of god and goddess. This is often referred to as Golu. This exhibition is based on Golu.

As I walked past each of the 24 exhibits along with the audio video guide enabled by the QR code – each exhibit dealt with such minute details that it was unbelievable. Each of the figurines had almost life like facial expressions, absolute thorough attention to their clothes and other aspects related to the act of Ramayana.

My favourite part of the exhibition were the exhibit scenes of Kumbhkaran sleeping, Sita jumping in the fire and the ten heads of Ravana. I experienced many emotions – one of funny one watching Kumbhkaran sleeping and how different figurines were busy waking up the sleeping devil. Each aspect of Ramayana has relevance to our times. It indeed has been a story of our times. An absolute delight to watch.