Kathmandu. ‘Buddha Theater Festival 2023’ has started in Kathmandu on the occasion of Theater Day. The third edition of the festival has begun at the National Dance Hall in Jamal. 10 Buddhist monks from Shechen Monastery officially open the festival with chanting.
Painter Anoop Baral was given a ‘double award’ of Rs 50,000 at the function. Baral’s award was accepted by actress Dia Maske. Ashokpyasi Rai, General Manager of the institute, Bhupal Rai, Chancellor of Nepal Pragya Pratishthan, Professor and writer Abhi Subedi and other artists were present in the programme.
Chancellor Rai said that organizing the festival for staging a play based on the life and philosophy of Buddha is a very good thing. He said that the festival associated with Buddha should be internationalised. On the first day, the dance drama ‘Chandalika’ was staged on the first day of the festival, which aims to acquaint the world with the philosophy of Gautama Buddha and the influence of Bodhisattva through theatre.
Festival director and actor Pushkar Gurung said that the festival was organized so that Nepali people could also understand and recognize Buddha as their own. He also said that from the next edition the festival will be taken international.
Six plays will be staged in the festival which will continue till 17th of Chait. Directed by Prashant Baglay, ‘Three Laughing Monks’ is being staged on Tuesday at 5 pm. On Wednesday, ‘Prativimba’ directed by Nikita Gurung and ‘Pattachara’ directed by Geeta Thapa will be staged. Barsha Bandra’s ‘Purap’ and Shasmil Magar’s ‘Amarpali’ will be screened on Thursday. Chakshu directed by Virendra Hamal will be staged on the last day of the festival.