Rourkela, Oct. 10: The Padmaberna Sanskritika Sangathana is back with their open air jatra contest. This is the 20th year of the festival that is organised to give an impetus to the amateur artistes.

Seven troupes will perform in the eight-day carnival. The Sector-VI, H-block market committee is the main patron of the event that kicked off last evening.

“This is one of a kind in the whole state. You have seen competitions being held for professional troupes, but here, we are organising it for the amateurs. I can say we have produced some very good professionals,” said Pulin Bihari Mansingh, the cultural secretary and a veteran stage artiste of the city. This year, of all the jatras to be staged by seven local teams, two are in Kosali language.

“We take note of all intricate details. This being one of the most awaited events here, we see to it that we do not compromise on quality. Though one may not find the finesse of a professional troupe, these amateur artistes, too, put up a great show,” Mansingh said.

NIT, Rourkela director Sunil Sadangi, who was chief guest on the occasion, inaugurated the event. Other guests of honour were journalist Satyananda Mohanty and social activist Sasadhara Nanda.

“Earlier, when Padmaberna started the programme, a clay stage was used for the performances. However, nowadays a tent house operator from Nayagarh is being hired. He provides all modern amenities such as raised platform, lighting, sound system and double stage. Committee president Rama Nayak said: “It all started on a shoestring budget. But now, it stands between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 3.5 lakh. Generally, we get at least nine to 10 entries every year, but we select seven.”

This year, eminent jury of stage veterans will judge all the seven plays. They are Krupasindhu Nayak, Kedar Acharya and Raju Padhi from Berahmpur. For the first time, the organisers have managed to rope in a sponsor and, therefore, the first three best productions will get an amount of Rs 5,000, Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000 prize money. The first day’s play that began at 9.30pm got over at 1am. The inaugural play is about the poor souls, who have got trapped in the machination and deceit of everyday life.