CM Rekha Gupta Honours Delhi's Best Ramlila Committees
Synopsis
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta attended the Navbharat Times-organised Dashahara Darpan 2026 event on October 27, honouring Delhi's best Ramlila committees and artists. Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra was also present. Gupta praised the city's unbroken devotion to the story of Ram across generations.
Key Takeaways
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta attended and addressed the Dashahara Darpan 2026 event on October 27, 2026 .
The event was organised by Navbharat Times to honour Delhi's best Ramlila committees and performing artists.
Delhi Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra and several other dignitaries were present at the ceremony.
Gupta highlighted Delhi's enduring love and devotion for the story of Lord Ram across changing generations.
The recognition reflects a broader pattern of Delhi administrations supporting community-run Ramlila traditions during Dussehra.
Delhi's centuries-old Ramlila tradition found its spotlight on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, as Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta attended the 'Dashahara Darpan 2026' event and personally felicitated the capital's finest Ramlila committees — a reminder that in this city, the story of Ram never grows old.
Speaking at the ceremony, CM Gupta captured the sentiment of the evening in a single, resonant line: 'Generations change, time changes, but Delhi's love and devotion for the story of Lord Shri Ram remains equally unbroken.' The event, organised by the Hindi-language daily Navbharat Times, brought together winning Ramlila committees and performing artists under one roof to celebrate the living folk-theatre tradition that defines the capital's festive calendar every Dussehra.
Delhi's Ramlila Stage — A Tradition That Outlasts Every Administration
Delhi has long been home to some of the most elaborate and widely attended Ramlila performances in the country, with dozens of community-run committees staging episodes of the Ramayana across neighbourhoods from Ramleela Maidan to the bylanes of Purani Dilli. Successive city governments have periodically backed or recognised these groups, understanding that the performances are not merely religious theatre — they are civic events that pull in hundreds of thousands of residents each year and stitch together communities across caste and class lines. The Dashahara Darpan awards platform, curated by the Navbharat Times team, fits neatly into that pattern: an annual moment where editorial and government visibility converges to salute the volunteers, directors, and artists who keep the tradition alive season after season, often with no institutional funding.Kapil Mishra and the Government's Cultural Stamp
The presence of Delhi Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra alongside CM Gupta signalled that the recognition was not a solo appearance but a deliberate gesture of government solidarity with Delhi's cultural calendar. Several other dignitaries attended the event, lending it the character of an official state endorsement of community art rather than a routine felicitation. Gupta extended warm congratulations to all winning Ramlila committees and their artists, and offered special appreciation to the Navbharat Times team for organising what she called a 'beautiful event.' The Ramlila committees will return to the stage next Dussehra. If this year's Dashahara Darpan is anything to go by, Delhi's government intends to keep showing up in the front row.Point of View
The administration signals institutional continuity with folk-religious practice — a soft-power move that transcends pure governance. The gesture also serves a grassroots purpose: Ramlila committees are deeply embedded in Delhi's neighbourhood networks, making them significant social capital for any ruling party. Whether it translates into sustained cultural policy support for these committees remains the real test.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dashahara Darpan 2026 event?
Dashahara Darpan 2026 is an annual awards event organised by Navbharat Times to recognise and honour Delhi's best Ramlila committees and performing artists during the Dussehra festival season.
Who attended the Dashahara Darpan 2026 ceremony?
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Delhi Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra attended the event on October 27, 2026, along with several other dignitaries.
What did Delhi CM Rekha Gupta say about Ramlila?
CM Gupta said that while generations and times change, Delhi's love and devotion for the story of Lord Shri Ram remains equally unbroken.
Which organisation organised Dashahara Darpan 2026?
The event was organised by Navbharat Times, a leading Hindi-language daily newspaper.
Why are Ramlila performances significant in Delhi?
Delhi hosts some of the country's largest community-run Ramlila performances each Dussehra, drawing hundreds of thousands of residents and sustaining a living tradition of folk theatre rooted in the Ramayana.
