Nirmol Jatra Utsab begins in Mymensingh today

An 11-day Jatra festival begins at Mymensingh Gymnasium from today.

The festival, titled Nirmol Jatra Utsab, is being organised by Nirmol Jatra Utsab Udjapon Parshad, a local organisation to promote tasteful jatra pala, a very old entertainment form of the country.

Marking the festival, a press conference was held at Mymensingh Press Club auditorium.

The speakers said due to lack of proper patronage and assistance, jatra is now in its dying state. Jatra pala has contained the traditional and cultural history of this country for centuries and this art form must be revived making it free from all sorts of vulgarism, the speakers added.

State minister for Social Welfare, Advocate Promod Mankin, is expected to inaugurate the festival.

Prominent jatra artistes from different parts of the country will perform at the festival, sources said. 

The jatra palas include –"Nichu Tolar Manush", "Jibon Nodir Teere", "Meghe Dhaka Tara", "Jail Theke Bolchhi", "Premer Samadhi Tire", "Goli Theke Rajpath", "Ekti Golaper Mrittu" and "Nabab Siraj-Ud-Doula". 

A jatra pala will be dedicated to financially assist the distressed artistes of this sector, sources said.

On the concluding day on November 15, ten veteran jatra artistes will be honoured with crests and citation, sources added.