Actors stage a play at Premchand Rangshala in Patna on Monday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Folk artistes from the rural areas of the state are overjoyed with the opportunity to showcase their talents at a six-day festival in Patna.

Plays and a painting exhibition are a part of Lokotsav, the festival organised by the state art, culture and youth affairs department at Premchand Rangshala. The festival celebrates various folk arts of Bihar. For most of the performers, this is their opportunity to visit the state capital and maiden chance to perform in front of a huge crowd.

Members of Madhubani-based Karant Lal and Group presented their play, Hirni-Birni, on Sunday to the applause of the audience after chief minister Niitish Kumar inaugurated the festival.

“Programmes like these need to be organised regularly so that artistes from the rural areas get a platform to showcase their talents,” Nitish said.

Vishnu Dev Paswan and Group — comprising 19 artistes from different villages of Madhubani district — presented their play Raja Salhes on Monday. Umakant Jha, the trainer of the group, said the members of the group were excited at the chance to perform in Patna.

“Except three to four actors, who had earlier participated in Bihar Divas, no one has come to Patna before. For most of them, this festival is a big opportunity to showcase their talents,” said Jha.

Bihar Sangeet Natak secretary Academy Vibha Sinha told The Telegraph that the festival was a first-of-its-kind in the state.

“The folk artistes in Bihar generally perform at their villages. During Bihar Divas, some of them were invited to Patna for presenting their acts. But there are several folk artistes who have never performed in the state capital. This programme is a big platform for them,” she said.

Artistes based in Patna feel the same and appreciated the state government’s initiative.

Soma Chakraborty, a theatre artiste who went to see Hirni-Birni on Sunday, said: “It is good that the state government is taking steps to revive the dying folk arts of Bihar. I saw the play (Hirni-Birni) and was spellbound to see the actors’ skills. They are not trained but still they were able to connect with the audience. I could not take my eyes off for a moment.”

On the schedule for the rest of the festival, Sinha said: “On Tuesday, Shivchandra Paswan and Group from Vaishali district will stage Sati Bihula, while on Wednesday Beli Rai and Group from Jehanabad will stage Reshma Chuharmal. On Thursday, Anil Sada and Group will perform Dina Bhadri. Pawan Singh and Group will stage Bahura Godhin on Friday.

While the theatre festival has given reason for cheer to the performers and audience, the folk painting exhibition has also become a hit. Fourteen artists, including Sunil Kumar Chaudhary and Dinesh Kumar from Patna, Vedprakash from Delhi and Vinod Ranjan from Ranchi, have exhibited their paintings on the lives of Dalits.