AP PHOTOS: Performers bring Hindu gods to life in the Ramleela

23-year old Ashutosh Agnihotri has been playing god this week.

Ahead of the Dussehra festival, which celebrates the defeat of mythological demon Ravana, at the hands of Lord Rama, artists dressed in ornate crowns and costumes perform the Ramleela, a dramatic re-enactment of Lord Rama’s life as told in the religious epic Ramayana.

Performing as one of Hindu-majority India’s most beloved gods means living up to the values enshrined in his inspiring life story, says Agnihotri, the actor playing Lord Rama.

The former technology professional-turned-actor is trying to keep his anger in check during the 10-day run of the Ramleela in a New Delhi park.

“Well, I get angry. God does not get angry easily,” he says. “When you have played the character of god, you realize how you should live your life as a human being. God has shown you everything.”

Usually performed on a brightly lit open stage, the Ramleela brings alive one of the most enduring tales in Hindu religion, symbolizing the...