Seetha Swayamwaram

**Seetha Swayamwaram**

**Director:** Manjunath L Badiger

About The Event

Although this play is based on the well-known story from the **Ramayana**, it presents a completely different dramatic interpretation. In this version, **Seetha’s Swayamwar** does not take place in King Janaka’s palace but in the **ashram of Sage Vishwamitra**. With the intention of ensuring that Seetha is married to Rama, **Janaka and Vishwamitra devise a plan**. However, the magical schemes of **Ravana, Shuka, and Sarana** emerge as major challenges.

Ravana appears disguised as Rama, and the confusion created by the disguises of **Vishwamitra, Rama, and Lakshmana** leads to deception, illusion, and suspicion, giving the play several unexpected twists. On one side, Ravana weaves cunning plots to win Seetha, while on the other, **the sons of Tataka plan revenge to destroy Rama**, deepening the intensity of the story.

Who is the real Rama?

Is **appearance the truth**, or are **dharma and righteous actions the true identity**?

The truth is finally revealed through the **test of Shiva’s bow**. By breaking the mighty bow of Shiva, Rama removes King Janaka’s doubts and wins **Seetha’s Swayamwar**. The arrival of **Parashurama** and the confrontation involving the **Vaishnava bow** bring the drama to another powerful peak.

Accompanied by music, intense situations, and deep insights, this play is not merely a mythological story—

It raises a question that remains relevant even today:

### Who is the real Rama?