Rourkela: The 32nd Lok Natak Mahotsav started from Tuesday evening at Civic Centre here. The theatre festival will continue till January 8.

The opening day act was "Bagha Banchichi" (tiger is alive) by a local group Abhinaya, written by Prakash Chandra Panigrahi and directed by Sangram Pati.

There are six groups for the competitive category, while on the concluding day Titli Foundation, will stage "Baichadhei Ra Dena" as an invited troupe.

General secretary of cultural academy Akhaya Samal, said: "We got 25 scripts but we chose only six as these were indigenous ones." This time, there are four troupes from outside - Nupur from Baripada, Natyakranti from Balangir, Sachetana Hema from Bargarh and Sobha from Balasore.