Multilingual drama festival begins at Arohan Gurukul

By A Staff Reporter Kathmandu, June 28: A multilingual drama festival has begun at Arohan Gurukul Natak Ghar in Thapagaun, Kathmandu since Sunday. Organised by Nepal Academy of Music and Drama, the festival was jointly inaugurated by Dr. Jagman Gurung, Chancellor of Nepal Pragya Pratisthan, Shyam Prakash Tamot, Member Secretary of Nepal Music and Drama Pragya Pratisthan and Ashesh Malla, a senior playwright.

Nisha Sharma, the festival coordinator, said that the drama festival supposed to be held two years ago was finally organised. The festival was put off two years ago because of COVID-19. 

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the festival, Chancellor Dr. Gurung said that such drama festivals would also help bring dramas of the national ethnic languages into the mainstream. 

On the first day of the festival, a Lapcha language play Sworga Jane Bato was staged under the direction of Songkit Lapcha. 

The play was performed by the Lapcha community of Ilam. 

Songkit Lapcha, Gyan Bahadur Lapcha, Ong Chiring Lapcha, Dimit Lapcha, Minmit Lapcha, Pemkit Lapcha, Rajendra Kattel, Shrishti Rai and Sanjok Ghimire acted in the play.

The lead actor of this play tells a funny story about his journey to heaven, which he had dreamt. After listening to him, the villagers decide to build a road to heaven together. 

They also dig their way by performing their puja rituals. 

But after reaching the top of the hill, the path is demolished and the desire to go to heaven of villagers is shattered.

 This is the first time that Lapcha Utthan Manch of Ilam has staged this play in its own language. 

The festival, which started on Sunday, will continue till July 2.

 A Tharu language play Kanan Haralata was staged on Monday at the festival. Similarly, Bambu language drama Sumnima will be staged on Tuesday.

Likewise, Chamling language drama Semuna, Puma language drama Hongchha, Limbu language drama Subiu Chari and Khas language drama Kutiro will be staged on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday respectively. Narayan Bhakta Shrestha, Vice-Chancellor of Nepal Music and Drama Pragya Pratisthan, said that the purpose of the drama festival, co-organised by Arohan Gurukul, is to promote Nepal as a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual country.