The highly anticipated seven-day Jatra Festival begins today at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, celebrating the rich tradition of Jatra Pala, a folk theatre form deeply woven into Bengal's cultural history. 

Known for its unique combination of entertainment and social commentary, Jatra has long been cherished for reflecting the realities of rural life and societal issues.

Under the theme "In fear, we falter; in defiance, we are Bangladesh," the festival aims to revitalise cultural expression in the post-July Revolution spirit. 

Running from November 1 to 7 at the Mukto Moncho in Suhrawardy Udyan, each evening from 6pm to 9pm, seven registered Jatra troupes from across the country will perform an array of historical and socially-themed plays.

The opening ceremony, set for this evening, will feature prominent cultural figures. Israfill Mazumdar, a leader from the 1969 mass uprising, will grace the event as the chief guest. Renowned Jatra artiste Anima Dey will attend as a special guest, and Faiz Zahir, director of the Theater and Film Department at the Shilpakala Academy, will deliver the welcome speech. 

Dr Syed Jamil Ahmed, director general of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and a noted theatre director, will preside over the event.

Tonight's festival opener, "Nihoto Golap", written by Agontuk and directed by Kabir Khan, will be performed by the theatre troupe Surubhi Opera. 

Throughout the week, audiences can look forward to an exciting lineup of performances by celebrated Jatra troupes, featuring productions like "Anarkali", "Meghe Dhaka Tara", "Lalon Fakir", "Apon Dulaal", "Phoolan Devi", and "Nawab Siraj-ud-Doula". These shows promise a lively celebration of this cherished traditional art form.

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