The three-day Maithali Drama Fest-2073 has kicked off at the premises of Janakpur Chamber of Commerce in Janakpur on Monday. The fest, organised by Nepal Academy of Music and Drama, was inaugurated by Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ananda Prasad Pokharel. The fest commenced with Minister Pokharel reciting a dialogue from Mahendra Malangiya’s acclaimed play Okara Aangakan Baarhamasa.

Speaking during the opening, Minister Pokharel said drama is a genre that draws the line between truth and falsity. He also urged playwrites to write plays that evoke the social malpractices without any fear.

The fest features plays by six play groups hailing from Nepal and India.

The first day of the fest saw the staging of two plays—Udhaar Jutta produced by Mithila Natyakala Parishad and Bajjar Khasau Ehan Jatipur produced by Bihar-based Mithila Natya Sansthan.

Udhaar Jutta revolves around the story of a middle class family that fails even to buy a pair of shoes for its family members. The play shows how a conflict arises in the family in order to wear a single pair of shoes. The play featured actors Madan Thakur, Anita Rani Mandal, Sandeep Shah, Ganga Kanta Jha and Dhiraj Thakur, among others.

The fest is slated to continue until July 6.