A scene from Jatra pala Nihato Golap staged at the Experimental Theatre Hall. — Ali Hossain Mintu

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has organsied a four-day jatra festival at the Experimental Theater Hall of the academy.
The academy will judge the quality of the 11 participating troupes in the festival for registration as Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy enlisted troupes as mentioned at the recently announced rules for jatra pala formulated by the government.
Jatra troupe Swapna Opera, Keya Jatra Unit and Satarupa Shilpygosthi performed on the opening day of the festival on Sunday.
Swapna Opera’s staged Nihata Golap, directed by HAM Salam, depicting the life struggle of a lady who looses her husband and son being victim of a conspiracy by village headman.
Satorupa Shilpygosthi’s jatra Premer Somadhi Teerey, directed by MA Rashid, glorifies the power of love through two historic characters.
Directed by Masum Chowdhury, Sagor Bhasha was staged by Keya Jatra Unit. The jatra features an oppressor king, who gets oracle that his son will kill him.
To be safe from the oracle, the king sets his son adrift water. But, the son breturs after a few years and kills the king.
Colourful costumes, rhythmic dialogues and melodious music presented by musicians of the troupe were enjoyable.
‘We are trying to perform our best and I believe the story as well the performance will entertain the audiences,’ HAM Salam, a director cum artiste of Swapna Opera, told New Age.     
The judges of the festival are SM Mohsin, Sarah Ara Mahmud, Milan Kanti Dey, Liaquat Ali Lucky, Mamunur Rashid, professor Afsar Ahmed and Tapash Sarkar. 
‘Judges are evaluating the performances in several criteria including music, acting, story, costume, and others,’ SM Mohsin told New Age.