Mohakal to participate in three fests in India

DOT Desk: Theatre troupe Mohakal Natya Sampraday is going to participate in three theatre festivals in Tripura, India, reports The New Age.
The troupe will stage its acclaimed play Nilakhyan, an adaptation of Kazi Nazrul Islam’s short story Sapure, at the festivals.
Mohakal will stage the play tomorrow at the ‘5th International Natyamancha Festival’, organised by Learners’ Education Society, at Vivekananda Mancha.
On January 4, the troupe will stage Nilakhyan at ‘13th Theatre Festival’, organised by Natyabhumi in Agartala. On January 5, Mohakal will participate in ‘Natyataranga 2019’, organised by Subham Natyachakra.
‘It is prestigious to participate in three well-known theatre festivals in India. A 25-member team of Mohakal Natya Sampraday will leave for India today,’ said Mohakal chief Mir Zahid Hasan.
Nilakhyan, adapted by Anan Zaman and directed by Yousuf Hasan Arko, uses the traditional narrative theatre technique to present the story of a snake-charmer who suffers between desires for physical love and spiritual attainment.
Nilakhyan begins with Zohor, leader of a snake charmer’s community, praying to the goddess of snakes Monosha. He asks the goddess to make him immune to snake venom.
The goddess accepts his prayer on one condition according to which Zohor will have to choose celibacy and dedicate both his body and mind for the cause. A determined Zohor sets out on a journey to achieve his goal.
The story takes a turn when Zohor, while nearing the end of his quest, falls in love with a girl. He breaks his vow of celibacy and thus fails to attain supernatural powers.