February 6, 2014
WB CM inaugurates the 18th edition of Annual Jatra Utsav
West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee today inaugurated the 18th edition of the Jatra Festival at Kacchari Maidan in Barasat. The festival will be held from February 6 to 8 at Barasat and then will shift venue to Fanibhusan Bidyabinod Jatra Mancha at Baghbazar.
The Chief Minister felicitated the Jatra icons Swapankumar and Tapankumar. The first day of the festival witnessed the staging of 4 jatras. The inaugural jatra was `Ekaler Durag` by Natya Company. Organized by the Paschim Banga Jatra Academy under the Information & Cultural Affairs of the State Government, the festival will see participation of jatra companies from various districts.
After assuming power, the Trinamool government had taken the initiative to save the art of jatra. The government has already lowered the tax paid by the jatra companies by a huge margin. The Chief Minister today hiked the pension of jatra artists from Rs 7000 to Rs 8000 per month.
