Regional Drama Festival at SNA showcases 'Rashmirathi' play

The Regional Drama Festival began at the UP Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) and will last for three days. The festival opened with the play "Rashmirathi." This performance tells the story of Karna, a character from ancient Indian mythology. It was presented by the Sanskratik Sangam theatre group from Deoria's Salempur and directed by Manvendra Kumar Tripathi. "Rashmirathi" is based on a famous poem by Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar.’ The story explores themes of identity and honor, suggesting that a person's worth is defined by their actions rather than their birth. The play starts with Karna’s birth, where he is abandoned by his mother Kunti and found by a charioteer couple. He grows up not knowing his royal lineage and faces many challenges because of it. The lead roles include Manvendra Tripathi as Karna, Raj Maurya as Krishna, Ravindra Rangdhar as Parshuram, and Akansha Victory as Kunti. The festival will continue with two more plays, "Akhari Vasant" and "Bhuvneshwar - Dar Bhuvneshwar," scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Admission to the festival is free, and all performances start at 6:30 PM.