Prayagraj: The stage presented a scene of snow-capped mountains… The Pandavas were ascending to heaven, and Draupadi was slowly being left behind. She looked back with hope, but no one returned. The questions that arose in Draupadi’s mind at that moment moved the entire auditorium. “For whom did I live my life? Was there no place for those for whom I sacrificed everything?” “Draupadi Gatha” brought this poignant episode from the Mahabharata to life, giving a new voice to the story of a woman’s sacrifice, struggle, identity, and self-respect. On Tuesday, the second day of the three-day Triveni Art Festival, organized by the North Central Zone Cultural Centre, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the play was emotionally staged in the Cultural Centre auditorium under the direction of Dr. Sandhya Sharma and Sunil Makkar.
The program was inaugurated by lighting the lamp by the chief guest Dr. Ashwini Kumar Singh, Mahatma Gandhi International University, Regional Center, Prayagraj, Center Director Sudesh Sharma, Mahesh Joshi, Vice President, Haryana Art Council and Advisor Kalpana Sahay. The play, presented in a playful style, was enhanced by the use of traditional Haryanvi folk songs and instruments like the sarangi, nagada, dholak, and harmonium. With their superb acting and soulful presentation, the actors brought various episodes from Draupadi’s life to life on stage.
On stage, Ram Pratap Rajput, Sunil Makkar, Dinesh Vashisht, Krishna and Arjun, Ravinder Kumar, Rajbir Singh, Kapil, Naresh (clarinet), and Rajesh (chorus) enthralled the audience with their impressive performances. The perfect blend of the actors’ performances, dialogue, and folk music kept the audience engaged in the story.
Draupadi’s life journey from birth to death, her relationships, struggles, sacrifices and self-respect, presented through various episodes, moved the audience. In the play, Draupadi was shown not only as a queen or a wife, but as a woman who raised questions for her honor, identity and existence. The presentation effectively brought forward the questions of women’s identity and self-respect by connecting the story of Mahabharata with the life of today’s woman. On this occasion, the chief guest was honored by the center director by presenting him a plant and a shawl.
