The 20th National Theatre Festival CANFEST-2023 kick started here on Sunday in a grand manner.
In the inaugural ceremony, Paradip Port Authority (PPA) Chairman PL Haranadh was present as the chief guest and declared the festival open.
Among others, the inauguration was attended by Chairman, Paradip Municipality BasantBiswal, Deputy Chairman,PPAAsish Kumar Bose, eminent theatre director and academician, University of Hyderabad Prof Satyabrata Rout, Executive Director and head of IOCL Paradip Refinery Mukesh Mohan, Unit Head, IFFCO, Paradip KJ Patel and president, CANMASS Atulya Kumar Mohapatra were present as guests. The function was coordinated by secretary, CANMASS Sriman Narayan Mishra.
In the inaugural evening, Hindi play 'BhagawadJukeyam' was performed by Nipa Rang Mandali of Lucknow.
This year, the festival was dedicated to founder president of CANMASS Manoj Kumar Pradhan. The festival will run for ten days till March 28.