By: Jayanti Oza

On April 5, the ISKCON Chicago Temple commemorated Ram Navami, the divine appearance day of Lord Rama, with a vibrant cultural and spiritual celebration attended by over 200 devotees. The evening featured an immersive theatrical and musical presentation, bringing the epic tale of the Ramayana to life.

Organized under the guidance of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), the event combined devotional drama, music, and spiritual reflection to honor the life and teachings of Lord Rama.
The program, titled “Ramayana: A Musical Journey to Divine Shelter,” was presented by HG Nityanandan Pran Das, HG Sacisuta Das, HG Jyotirmaya Devi Dasi, Srikanth Dakshinamoorthy, and Sripathy Sreedhar, and included a special theatrical production by Leela Theater. The play, “A Play on Ramayan,” was directed and performed by HG Ram Raghav Das and HG Amara Devi Dasi, and was warmly received by the audience.
The drama powerfully depicted key episodes from the Ramayana, highlighting the virtues of dharma, devotion, and righteousness embodied by Lord Rama. Devotees praised the artistic performance, saying it brought both joy and deep spiritual insight.
HG Nityanandan Pran Das also shared reflections on the significance of Ramayana in the modern age, encouraging devotees to take shelter in the teachings of Lord Rama for spiritual strength and clarity.