A peek behind Ramlila

<strong>Modern meets ancient:</strong> Accessories await the Gods and Demons. A pair of sunglasses strike the odd note, but they shall not be going up on stage today. (NDTV Photo)

Modern meets ancient: Accessories await the Gods and Demons. A pair of sunglasses strike the odd note, but they shall not be going up on stage today. (NDTV Photo)

<strong>Headless, eyeless:</strong> A tinny, encrusted crown, dusted out from its corner in a musty cupboard and polished for another performance. The sunglasses are polished every day. Who will they adorn? (NDTV Photo)

Headless, eyeless: A tinny, encrusted crown, dusted out from its corner in a musty cupboard and polished for another performance. The sunglasses are polished every day. Who will they adorn? (NDTV Photo)

<strong>Music and murder meet:</strong> Soon, separate hands will grab different instruments. It’s Ramlila time. (NDTV Photo)

Music and murder meet: Soon, separate hands will grab different instruments. It’s Ramlila time. (NDTV Photo)

<strong>Do Not Touch:</strong> This trunk holds a Monkey God’s apparel. Clearly, not time yet for Hanuman to enter stage left. (NDTV Photo)

Do Not Touch: This trunk holds a Monkey God’s apparel. Clearly, not time yet for Hanuman to enter stage left. (NDTV Photo)

<strong>Musical chairs:</strong> Seating arrangements being readied for a colossal extravaganza. Come night and the red chairs shall seat the gentry. The rest are up for grabs – first come, first served. (NDTV Photo)

Musical chairs: Seating arrangements being readied for a colossal extravaganza. Come night and the red chairs shall seat the gentry. The rest are up for grabs – first come, first served. (NDTV Photo)

<strong>Awaiting humanity:</strong> The chairs stretch for miles. Very soon each will be filled, some with two, even three occupants staring wonderstruck as the epic unfolds. (NDTV Photo)

Awaiting humanity: The chairs stretch for miles. Very soon each will be filled, some with two, even three occupants staring wonderstruck as the epic unfolds. (NDTV Photo)

<strong>Easy does it: </strong> Putting up this stage is no child’s play. Behind that rough frame, satin and velvet are draped on wood to erect a massive structure. (NDTV Photo)

Easy does it: Putting up this stage is no child’s play. Behind that rough frame, satin and velvet are draped on wood to erect a massive structure. (NDTV Photo)

<strong>A dash of blue:</strong> An artist puts the finishing touches to a backdrop frame. (NDTV Photo)

A dash of blue: An artist puts the finishing touches to a backdrop frame. (NDTV Photo)

<strong>Let there be light:</strong> This man sweats it out in the particularly hot September sun. He knows on him lies the onus of illumination. (NDTV Photo)

Let there be light: This man sweats it out in the particularly hot September sun. He knows on him lies the onus of illumination. (NDTV Photo)

<strong>The stage is set:</strong> The backroom boys have done their job. Now for the actors to breathe life into the ageless tale of love, betrayal, war and peace. (NDTV Photo)

The stage is set: The backroom boys have done their job. Now for the actors to breathe life into the ageless tale of love, betrayal, war and peace. (NDTV Photo)

<strong>The lull:</strong> The master artisan brings out his tools of the trade. He stills himself before the moment when he shall paint expression on to the faces of hundreds of characters. (NDTV Photo)

The lull: The master artisan brings out his tools of the trade. He stills himself before the moment when he shall paint expression on to the faces of hundreds of characters. (NDTV Photo)

<strong>Rainbow:</strong> Up close the colours he is painting on her face look stark, garish even. From a great distance, the red will define the lip as she mouths her dialogue. (NDTV Photo)

Rainbow: Up close the colours he is painting on her face look stark, garish even. From a great distance, the red will define the lip as she mouths her dialogue. (NDTV Photo)

<strong>In repose:</strong> Who is he tonight? What are his thoughts? Is he Ram, thinking about his final moment of glory? Or his he Lakshman, torn already between love and duty? (NDTV Photo)

In repose: Who is he tonight? What are his thoughts? Is he Ram, thinking about his final moment of glory? Or his he Lakshman, torn already between love and duty? (NDTV Photo)

<strong>Gone back in time:</strong>  Only the hint of a striped collar bears testimony now to the fact that this face belongs in 2009. The rest harks back to centuries ago. (NDTV Photo)<br />

Gone back in time: Only the hint of a striped collar bears testimony now to the fact that this face belongs in 2009. The rest harks back to centuries ago. (NDTV Photo)

<strong>Pass me the vermillion:</strong> The master make-up man deals quickly with another face. There are many more to paint. (NDTV Photo)

Pass me the vermillion: The master make-up man deals quickly with another face. There are many more to paint. (NDTV Photo)

<strong>Young one:</strong> Old enough to understand that he is part of a universal celebration. Too young to be have lost the wonder. (NDTV Photo)

Young one: Old enough to understand that he is part of a universal celebration. Too young to be have lost the wonder. (NDTV Photo)

<strong>Future Ram:</strong> An understudy? Or did he lose his way? Clearly a bystander this year, this child is soaking in the electric atmosphere. (NDTV Photo)

Future Ram: An understudy? Or did he lose his way? Clearly a bystander this year, this child is soaking in the electric atmosphere. (NDTV Photo)

<strong>White for the demon:</strong>  The other side begins to get attention as Ravana and family now line up for their share of the pancake. (NDTV Photo)

White for the demon: The other side begins to get attention as Ravana and family now line up for their share of the pancake. (NDTV Photo)

<strong>Music to my ears:</strong>  Ready for the Ramlila, he relaxes to music for his ears only. Hip hop anyone? (NDTV Photo)

Music to my ears: Ready for the Ramlila, he relaxes to music for his ears only. Hip hop anyone? (NDTV Photo)

<strong>Aim and shoot:</strong> If that arrow didn’t find Ravana, I am clearly not Ram, am I? (NDTV Photo)

Aim and shoot: If that arrow didn’t find Ravana, I am clearly not Ram, am I? (NDTV Photo)

<strong>Brothers in Arms:</strong> Make-up done, costume worn, Ram and Lakshman are ready to take Delhi through a magical evening of Ramlila. (NDTV Photo)

Brothers in Arms: Make-up done, costume worn, Ram and Lakshman are ready to take Delhi through a magical evening of Ramlila. (NDTV Photo)

A peek behind Ramlila

We take a peak behind Ramlila as they set up for a brand new production.