Navtanki drama staged at Satwa village in Goregaon on Diwali; Durgaprasad Thakre says folk art lives

A drama programme was held at night on 11 November at Satwa village in Goregaon taluka on the occasion of Diwali. It was organised by Bal Ganesh Natya Mandal.

The programme was presided over by Durgaprasad Thakre, a director of the District Central Cooperative Bank. Addressing the gathering, he said that when there were no modern means to awaken, educate and entertain society, our ancestors roused society through folk art and cultural programmes and gave it a new direction. According to Thakre, navtanki dramas are still staged in the present modern age, and the artistes have truly kept folk art alive through drama.

The programme was inaugurated by Mahendra Thakur, a director of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee. Yogesh Chaudhari was present on the occasion. Bhagchand Rahangdale was present for the lighting of the lamp. The deity of the stage, Rangdevta, was first worshipped according to ritual, after which the inauguration took place.

The chief guests included Sarpanch Archana Thakur, Deputy Sarpanch Vinod Pardhi, Devkant Thakur, Dayanand Katre, Nitin Katre, Tanta Mukti Samiti president Ravindra Katre, Police Patil Tikaram Rahangdale, Seva Sahakari president Kuvarlal Katre and retired teacher Indraraj Thakur. Purchase-sale society directors Puranlal Thakur, Bhojraj Katre, Kuldeep Vaidya, Dharmraj Thakur, Mahesh Thakur, Omendra Thakur, Umrao Kadukar and Ghanshyam Bodne, and drama committee president Fattulal Rahangdale, were also present.

Deputy Sarpanch Vinod Pardhi, Bhagchand Rahangdale, Nitin Katre, Mahendra Thakur, Dr Kuvarlal Katre and Indraraj Thakur were among many who spoke at the programme. Omprakash Chaudhari conducted the proceedings and Subhash Thakur proposed the vote of thanks.

Bhikaram Chaudhari, Sukhram Thakur, Mahendra Patle, Lalchand Katre, Mahendra Rahangdale, Devendra Katre, Rajesh Rahangdale, Jagjivan Thakur and Jitendra Chaudhari, among others, helped make the programme a success.