Abhisheek Kumar Singh/Sasaram

'Siyavar Ram Chandra Ki Jai' (Hail, Ram, who is chosen by Sita) resonates in this small village of Bihar’s Kaimur district, which has a good Muslim population. No wonder those chanting the slogans while watching Ramleela, a nine-day stage show depicting the life of Lord Ram and his victory over King Ravana, also include Muslims.

Thus, the village of Sato Avanti comes across as a symbol of unity among religions, as people, travel miles to see the Ramlila each year.

The stage for Ramleela is set in the village, located 190 km from Patna. Many Muslim artists play the characters in the Ramleela, some are involved in organizing the show.

Most of the villagers remember the dialogue of different characters in the show. The director of the show Sheikh Mumtaz Ali, is backstage holding a mike in his hand and giving clues to the characters about their dialogues. In between the scenes, he comes on the stage to recite a 'Chaupai' (couplet) of Ramcharitmanas which is in the Awadhi dialect.

His 19-year-old son Akleem plays the character of Sita, Lord Rama’s wife, in Ramleela.

According to village elders, Ramlila was started in the village in 1982 through the efforts of the then Sarpanch Jamaluddin Ansari and Master Nurul Ansari.

Villagers said that they respect Ramcharitmanas and its teachings; believe that its recitation brings positive changes to an individual, his family, and society.

In a report published in the English newspaper Hindustan Times, Suresh Singh, the patron of this Ramlila, said he called a meeting of the villagers and expressed his desire to start a Ramleela show. “The villagers welcomed the idea and everyone agreed to help."

In those days, it was not easy to arrange for resources, stage, costumes, decorations, and other necessary things in a remote village with no irrigation and electricity facilities.

The scene of Sita sayamvar

Nevertheless, Ansari and others worked hard and procured all the stuff required for the show from Varanasi and nearby places before the annual festival began.

In the first show in 1982, Khurshid Alam played the role of Ram, and Jamaluddin Ansari played the role of Kumbhakaran, Ravana’s brother who sleeps for half the year.

Martial arts experts Khalifa Sadaruddin Ansari and Shahabuddin Ansari directed and supervised the fighting scenes. Even after almost 42 years, they are still carrying on this task.

Muslims constitute at least 35 percent of the Ramlila crowd and their participation is increasing every year. However, after four decades, Mumtaz Ali has taken over as director of the show.

Tauqeer Ansari plays Kumbhakaran, Azad Ansari plays Sumitra and Imran Ansari plays Kaikeyi, while Afzal Ansari takes the stage as Lord Shiva.

Nurul Hoda Ansari in the role of Uttanpad (comedian) makes the audience laugh.

Not just the elderly, Muslim children are happily playing the role of soldiers of Lord Rama and Ravana's armies.

The Ramlila is held for a fortnight in the month of Ashwin from 5 pm to 7.30 pm and culminates with the coronation ceremony of Lord Rama on Dussehra. “People from both communities contribute each year, and always try to put up their best,” says Suresh Singh.

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Akleem, who is Sita for villagers, says, “The Hindus of the village help in organizing Muharram and Eid-Milad un Nabi (birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad). We celebrate Eid and all festivals together. I was surprised to read news of communal hatred in other parts of the country. When we are creatures of an almighty father, how can one man hate another?”