The 56th biennial state conference of Asom Natya Sanmilan, the premier body of the amateur theatre in the state got underway since Wednesday evening here at Mangaldoi with a five-day long programmes .
President of Asom Natya Sanmilan Dulal Roy along with fifty other prominent local persons unfurled altogether fifty six numbers of flag of the drama organization at the historic Gandhi Maidan on Thursday. This was followed by a colourful cultural procession passing through the main roads of Mangaldai town starting from Gandhi Maidan.
A good number of people including office bearers and members of Natya Sanmilan across the state , local dramatists, artistes , drama lovers and students participated in the procession. Many other programmes also featured in the day which included Smriti Tarpan, inauguration of the exhibition, release of collection of dramas and presentation of selected children dramas besides three full length dramas among others. The five-day long celebration reportedly will also feature presentation of dramas by groups from Sangeet Natak Akademy and National School of Drama (NSD). Besides drama competitions among each of the eight different zones of the state and four selected children dramas, street plays, audio drama, panel reviews of the dramas, state level contests in solo acting, mime and recitation, release of books on collection of dramas and open session among others will be the attractions of the programmes.
On the occasion the organizers are also going to ceremonially confer last year’s Asom Natya Sanmilan Award to noted actor of the state Pranjal Saikia and an award in memory of eminent playwright Mahendra Borthakur to another actress Jaya Sil while public felicitation will be offered to four leading drama activists of the state namely Samarendra Narayan Deb of Mangaldai , Tarun Saikia of Biswanath Chariali , Karuna Deka of Guwahati and Chinmoy Das of Barpeta as mark of recognition to their contribution to the growth of amateur theatre in the state. The five-day programme earlier began on late Wednesday evening with the ceremonial opening of the delegate camp at Youth club by working president of the organizing committee Rajib Kr Deka.