With the performance of "Nichu Tolar Manush", an 11-day Jatra festival began at Mymensingh Gymnasium on Thursday evening.

The festival, titled Nirmol Jatra Utsab, drew a huge audience at the venue to come back to the traditional form of entertainment.The festival is being organised by Nirmol Jatra Utsab Udjapon Parshad, a local organisation to promote tasteful jatra pala.

The jatra pala, written by Ranjan Devnath, was directed by Shah Alam Siddique.

"Jibon Nodir Teere", another popular jatra pala was staged yesterday, the second day of the festival, drawing a capacity packed audience at the venue.

Sirajul Islam, a veteran jatra artiste from Satkhira said this ancient and traditional art form is now on the verge of extinction and should be preserved for better interest of country's traditional culture, and the thousands of artistes involved with it as well. "We want a good environment for this creative art and the initiative taken here will surely put a positive impact for survival of this art," Sirajul said. 

Princess Ela, a young artiste said, as jatra artistes we want to live with dignity, and so we want proper patronization from the government and other corners of the society. 

Earlier, State minister for Social Welfare, Advocate Promod Mankin inaugurated the festival as chief guest. Milon Kanti Dey, president of Bangladesh Jatrashilpa Unnayan Parishad was the chief discussant.

The speakers urged all to extend their helping hands for distressed artistes.