The fourth day of Nirmol Jatra Utsab on Sunday witnessed the onrush of a large and enthusiastic audience.

"Bedhkanya", a jatra pala, written on myth Master Sikander Ali, was directed by Hanif Pathan.

The event is being oiganised by Nirmol Jatra Utsab Udjapon Parehad, that strives to promote tasteful jatra pala. Prominent jatra artistes from different parts of the country are performing at the festival.

The festival will conclude on

November 15 with the performance of the popular "Nabab Siraj-Ud-Doula".

The response to the festival encourages the organisers to go for more such events in the future, said Professor Amir Ahmed Chowdhury Ratan, convener of the festival.

Baby Sagarika Das, a veteran female jatra artiste of Mohanganj in Netrakona said, "Due to vulgarism, we kept off this old art form but such festivals give hope for a return to the golden days of jatra."

"We want a return to obscen-

ity-free jatra pala," said Shah Mohammad Ali, member secretary of the festival.

Earlier, Professor Mohammad Zakir Hossain, principal of Govt Ananda Mohan College was the chief guest at a discussion session. Monayem Hossain Ratan, president of Bangladesh Jatrashilpa Unnayan Parishad Kishoreganj unit and principal Khorshed Alam spoke on the occasion.

The speakers said that greater patronage of jatra by the government and elite can promote and preserve this traditional art form.