Belda's 8-Day Jatra Festival Revives Ancient Folk Art, Draws Huge Crowds

• An 8-day Jatra Utsav has begun in Belda, Paschim Medinipur, featuring new performances every evening.
• The festival aims to revive Jatra, a traditional folk art form of rural Bengal, which is fading due to modern entertainment like internet and OTT.
• Organized by Paschim Medinipur Jatra Sansad, the event seeks to showcase Medinipur's Jatra heritage and support local troupes.
• Jatra was historically a vital source of entertainment and cultural expression in rural areas, with Medinipur being a prominent center.
• The festival saw dense crowds from its very first day, indicating strong public interest in preserving this cultural heritage.

Why It Matters: Belda's Jatra festival successfully revives a fading folk art, drawing massive crowds and preserving cultural heritage.