A whiff of history, politics, and religion

On the evening of December 25, 1974, a local event grabbed the national spotlight. It was a year after the death of E V Ramasamy-Periyar. The cadre of Dravidar Kazhagam, then led by E V R Maniammai, Periyar’s wife, had gathered to celebrate Ravanaleela, an event held in retaliation to the popular Ramlila in the north. Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana effigies were set on fire as slogans ‘Ravanan Vazhga’ rent the air. It was the only Ravanaleela to be held.

from Chennai News: Latest Chennai News Headlines & Coronavirus News Updates from Chennai - Times of India https://ift.tt/3nKGZUU