CM Saini attends fifth Women's Ramlila in Zirakpur
Synopsis
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini attended the fifth edition of an all-women Ramlila in Zirakpur, Punjab, praising the female cast's artistry as a showcase of women's power and invoking Ram's ideals of truth, sacrifice, and harmony.
Key Takeaways
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini attended the fifth Women's Ramlila ( Panchvi Mahila Ramlila ) in Zirakpur, Punjab on October 11, 2026 .
The event features an exclusively female cast performing all roles, inverting the centuries-old tradition of male-only Ramlila performers.
Saini praised the participating women for demonstrating ' nari shakti ki pratibha evam saamarthya ' — the talent and strength of women's power — through their acting and artistry.
He invoked the ideals of Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram — truth, righteousness, sacrifice, and dignity — as a guiding ethos for society.
The event falls within the Dussehra festival season, a period when Ramlila performances are held across north India.
A stage full of women — playing every role from Ram to Ravana — lit up Zirakpur, Punjab, on the evening of Sunday, October 11, 2026, as the fifth edition of the all-women Ramlila unfolded in a spectacle that Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini called a 'grand and divine occasion.'
Saini, sharing photographs from the event on X, said he felt 'supreme fortune' in being part of the fifth Women's Ramlila (Panchvi Mahila Ramlila). In his post, he praised the mothers and sisters who brought every character to life through 'excellent acting, artistry, and self-confidence,' calling it a 'spectacular introduction to the talent and strength of women power' — nari shakti ki pratibha evam saamarthya.
An all-women cast in its fifth year
The Zirakpur Women's Ramlila is notable for featuring an exclusively female cast — a format that inverts centuries of tradition in which male performers have typically enacted all roles, including female ones. Reaching its fifth annual edition signals that the event has moved well beyond novelty and into a recognised cultural fixture in the region. The production's scale — described by Saini as 'grand and divine' (bhavya evam divya) — drew a significant gathering and warranted the Chief Minister's personal presence.Saini's message: Ram's ideals for a harmonious society
Beyond the cultural spectacle, Saini framed the event in moral and civic terms. Invoking Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram — the epithet meaning 'the most excellent upholder of righteous conduct' — he said Ram's ideals inspire people to walk the path of 'truth, righteousness, sacrifice, and dignity.' He concluded with a blessing that Ram's grace bring 'happiness, peace, and prosperity' to all families, and that society continue to progress with 'love, harmony, and good values.' The post closed with the devotional salutation 'Jai Shri Ram.' The Chief Minister's attendance at a cultural-religious event in neighbouring Punjab, ahead of the Dussehra festival season, underscores the cross-state resonance of Ramlila traditions across north India — and the political salience of celebrating women's cultural participation in a public, high-visibility format.Point of View
A framing the BJP has consistently cultivated ahead of festival seasons. By casting the event as evidence of 'nari shakti,' the Chief Minister aligns a cultural moment with a broader political vocabulary his party has promoted nationally. The cross-state dimension is also notable: appearing in Punjab signals a desire to project regional influence beyond Haryana's borders. At five editions running, the Zirakpur Women's Ramlila has clearly earned institutional recognition — and with a CM in attendance, its visibility will only grow.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Zirakpur Women's Ramlila?
The Zirakpur Women's Ramlila is an all-female Ramlila production held annually in Zirakpur, Punjab, in which women perform every role — including traditionally male characters — during the Dussehra festival season. The 2026 edition was its fifth year.
Why did Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini attend an event in Punjab?
Saini attended the fifth Women's Ramlila in Zirakpur, Punjab, as a cultural-religious event of regional significance during the Dussehra season. Zirakpur is located near the Haryana-Punjab border, making cross-state participation at such events common.
What did CM Saini say about the Women's Ramlila?
Saini said he felt 'supreme fortune' to attend, praised the female cast's 'excellent acting, artistry, and self-confidence,' and described the event as a 'spectacular introduction to the talent and strength of women power.'
What is the significance of an all-women Ramlila?
Traditionally, Ramlila performances — dramatic enactments of the Ramayana — have featured male performers in all roles, including female ones. An all-women cast subverts this convention, foregrounding women's cultural and artistic agency.
When did the 2026 Zirakpur Women's Ramlila take place?
The event took place on the evening of Sunday, October 11, 2026 , during the Dussehra festival season.
