Prisoners perform Ramlila inside Varanasi’s Central JailInmates at Varanasi Central Jail are performing Ramlila for the 15th year, with roles assigned thoughtfully by jail staff, blending reform and devotion as part of Dussehra celebrations. By IANS Published Date - 23 September 2025, 12:55 PMVaranasi: As the festive spirit of Dussehra sweeps across India, even the high walls of Varanasi’s Central Jail are resonating with chants of Lord Ram. In a unique initiative blending tradition with reform, prisoners serving life sentences or long-term imprisonment are performing the age-old epic of Ramlila within the jail premises. For the past 15 years, the Central Jail has hosted its own Ramlila, with inmates playing every role — from Lord Ram and Goddess Sita to King Ravana and Lord Hanuman. The staging at Varanasi Central Jail follows the Ramacharitmanas, composed by Tulsidas in the 16th century to make the Sanskrit epic accessible in Hindi.