Hyderabad, 04th February 2025: Hyderabad witnessed a spectacular cultural resurgence with Ramayana Kalpavrksam 2025, a three-day festival dedicated to celebrating the timeless epic, the Ramayana, through music, dance, storytelling, and scholarship. The festival, which has now become a much-anticipated annual event, brought together artists, scholars, and audiences from across the country for an immersive and enriching experience. The festival was inaugurated by Honorable Member of the Parliament, Sri Tejasvi Surya ji. Addressing an enthusiastic audience, he eloquently spoke about the relevance of the Ramayana in today’s world, emphasizing the importance of engaging with our rich arts and culture.
According to Dr. Ananda Shankar Jayant the creator of the annual festival, ‘Ramayana Kalpavrksam brings Sri Rama Chetana back into our lives, a 3-day immersion into all things Rama through the prism of top class performances, of dance, music, and Harikatha, by stars and doyens in the field, inspiring and scholarly talks, by renowned and young scholars, learning workshops on Indic knowledge, exhibitions, crafts and more’.
Day 3: Ecological, Philosophical, and Musical Explorations
The final day of Ramayana Kalpavrksam 2025 began with the second session of the Sanskrit workshop, followed by a series of illuminating talks:
● Vikram Sridhar, the storyteller, explored the Ecological Dimensions of the Ramayana, from Krauncha to Ashoka Vana, through an interactive and engaging presentation.
● Amritanshu Pandey spoke on Rajadharma of the Ishvakus, shedding light on governance and leadership principles drawn from the epic.
● Ami Ganatra, a bestselling author, delivered a compelling talk on Dharma and Dharma Sankata – Lessons from the Ramayana, drawing parallels to modern ethical dilemmas.
The afternoon saw an engaging Fabric Painting Workshop (Vastra Varnam) by Anusha Namburi, a student of Shankarananda Kalakshetra, attracting over 50 keen participants.
The festival concluded on a high note with two grand performances:
● JN Manipuri Dance Academy from Imphal presented a mesmerizing Manipuri Raas, marking a historic first-of-its-kind performance in Hyderabad.
● The grand finale was delivered by the stellar musical duo, Ranjani and Gayatri, with their exclusive presentation RAMA by RaGa, leaving the audience enthralled.
As the curtains fall on this year’s edition, the festival’s journey continues—bringing the Ramayana alive, one performance at a time.