World · South & Central Asia · 19 hrs ago
Village in Uttar Pradesh postpones Ramleela after Muslim resident dies
Organisers in Mohra postponed a Ramleela performance after a Muslim resident died.
Mohra is a village in Dhampur, in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor district.
Gafuran, about 85, was known as an aunt to villagers and was widely respected in the community.
The performance was due to begin on the first day of Navratri, a Hindu festival.
The village committee agreed to delay the event because the community was mourning her death.
The decision reflected ties across religious communities in a village where residents said there had been no history of Hindu-Muslim tension.
The performance was postponed for a day, according to reports on the village’s decision.
A village in Uttar Pradesh postponed its Ramleela performance after the death of Gafuran, a Muslim woman whom residents called “Bua.”
The decision was made by the Adarsh Ramleela Committee, with village residents agreeing that performing during the mourning period was not appropriate.
Gafuran was about 85 and was widely regarded in Mohra village as part of the community.
The village is in Dhampur tehsil, Bijnor district, where the annual Ramleela was due to begin on the first day of Navratri.
Reports differ on the precise timing of Gafuran’s death, but describe the performance as postponed for one day or deferred on the day it was due to start.
- Who
- Gafuran, an approximately 85-year-old Muslim woman, and the Adarsh Ramleela Committee and residents of Mohra.
- What
- The village postponed its Ramleela performance after Gafuran died.
- When
- The performance was due to begin on October 10, 2026. Reports differ on the precise timing of her death.
- Where
- Mohra village, in Dhampur tehsil, Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Why
- Residents said they considered Gafuran part of their community and felt it was not appropriate to perform while the village was mourning.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Ramleela was due to begin at 8 p.m. in Mohra village, according to BBC.
Gafuran died, according to BBC; Hindustan reports that she became unwell on Saturday evening and died later that night.
After learning of her death, the committee and residents agreed to postpone the Ramleela.
- Village
- Mohra, Dhampur tehsil, Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh
- Woman
- Gafuran, described as about 85
- Event
- Adarsh Ramleela Committee’s Ramleela performance
- Scheduled start
- 8 p.m. on the first day of Navratri
- Postponement
- One day, according to AajTak and Hindustan
3 sources
What people are saying
Her funeral was in the village. She was a daughter of our village and like an aunt to us. We could not bring ourselves to put on entertainment through Ramleela while her funeral was there.
Gafuran was the aunt of the whole village. The entire village is in mourning over her death. In such a situation, it was not appropriate to stage the Ramleela.
How could we have the heart to perform Ramleela while the body of Gafuran, who was like our aunt, lay on one side?