AGARTALA, February 4 (TIWN): Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today inaugurated a six day long international theater festival at Agartala Town hall. The festival titled “Bharat Rang Mahotsav” was jointly organised by the National School of Drama and Department of Information and Cultural Affairs of the state govt.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today inaugurating the theater festival laid a stress on the importance of drama art across the nation. The art of drama has been losing its glory along with the moving hands of the clock at the state as well as the national forum, Sarkar said. Adding to that Sarkar said that currently the state Tripura is running through a financial crisis in the art of drama as well as in the development of the culture of the state, while the state govt. is moving forward to boost up the sector with its own capacity.

However, at least 12 countries comprising of USA, UK, Germany, France, China, Poland, Switzerland, Norway, Israel, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and others have participated in the festival showcasing over 150 plays in New Delhi started from February 1.

The festival is the first of its kind in the state Tripura. The festival is known to stage famous plays in Bengali, English, Hindi and Hebrew. The festival is slated to conclude on February 9.

Since its inception in 1999, Bharat Rang Mahotsava has travelled to Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mumbai, Lucknow, Bhopal, Chennai, Jaipur, Rajasthan, Amritsar, Imphal and Guwahati.