Cuttack: A Nepali play on the age-old religious tradition of worshiping pre-pubescent girls, an Odissi performance by a dancer from Taiwan and a fusion dance with an act on women empowerment set the stage for the 26th edition of the Indian Theatre Olympiad, which was inaugurated here at Sarala Bhavan on Saturday evening.
The Theatre Olympiad - a national and international festival of drama, dance and music - was organised by the Utkal Yuva Sanskrutik Sangh. Finance minister Shasibhusan Behera inaugurated the theatre festival, which will continue till September 10.
The Nepali play, Lakhe, presented by Achel Natya Samuha from Kathmandu was on pre-pubescent girls as the manifestation of the divine female energy or devi in Hindu religious tradition. Based on the story of Deny Mishra and directed by Ajit Aryal, the play portrayed how in Nepal, a kumari or a pre-pubescent girl chosen from Shakya caste or Bajracharya clan of Nepalese Newan community, is revered and worshipped.
The play depicted the tradition through the life of royal kumari of Kathamandu, who lived in the Kumari Ghar, a palace in the centre of the city.
With 11 theatre artistes, the play revealed how a kumari believed to be the incarnation of Goddess Taleju was chosen for one day and worshipped on Navratri and Durga Puja.
"The play brought to light how as a part of the kumari tradition it is believed that the goddess leaves the body when her first menstruation starts and the loss of blood is symptomatic of serious illness that causes for loss of the deity," said dramatist Kartik Rath, who is also the Sangh's general secretary.
The audience enjoyed a fusion dance performance with an act by Bhubaneswar-based group Shibani's Yes You Can Dance with seven artistes. The act illustrated the journey of a girl from her birth to death and the exploitation she is exposed to throughout her life.
Odissi by Hanna Weng from Taiwan and Odissi performance by Bhubaneswar-based Suravi group was also appreciated by the audience.