Bhubaneswar, Aug.13: Four plays highlighting tribal culture and life and two folk art forms were performed at a three-day tribal festival organised recently in the city.

Theatre groups Natya Chetana and Adim from Bhawanipatna hosted the event. Natya Chetana staged the play Nua Thikana on the concluding day and Adim came up with a play titled Ghati. The maange dance of Jharkhand and dhaap of Odisha were also performed during the festival.

"The distinctiveness of the tribes of Odisha, their rituals, culture, beliefs and above all, the harmony with which they survive with nature, will be highlighted in this festival. We also wanted to give tribal actors a chance to showcase their skills in Bhubaneswar," said Subodh Patnaik, founder of Natya Chetana.

Two tribal artistes were felicitated every evening at the festival. A seminar on "Beliefs and Philosophy for Change in Adivasi Life" was also organised. "Our primary aim is to promote theatre troupes from the rural areas of the state and give them a platform to stage their talent. It would provide them exposure and help them to interact with prominent theatre artistes in the state and understand the latest trends in the field," said thespian Manoj Patnaik.

"Every generation has found a reflection of life's deepest concerns and most painful dilemmas in these plays. The plays helped discover new elusive aspects of human life," said Monalisa Jena, a theatre enthusiast.

Such festivals help revive various dying folk theatre forms. "Despite a getting good response every time we perform, our art is facing extinction. Lack of enough financial schemes and publicity have led to the downfall of the art form," said theatre artiste Alok Jena.