Jaipur, India — March 17, 2026
Jaipur Hosts Grand Cultural Showcase on Rajasthan Day
As part of Rajasthan Day celebrations, the state’s Tourism Department presented a grand staging of the play Samudra Manthan at Jawahar Kala Kendra on Tuesday. Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari attended the event as the chief guest.
The performance was part of an ongoing series of cultural programs aimed at showcasing Rajasthan’s rich artistic and theatrical heritage.
Large-Scale Production with National Theatre Expertise
Directed by Chittaranjan Tripathy, Director of Repertory at the National School of Drama, the play featured performances by over 100 artists.
Written by playwright Asif Ali, the production reinterprets the mythological narrative of Samudra Manthan—considered, in classical tradition, among the earliest theatrical expressions associated with Bharata Muni, the author of the Natya Shastra.
The play has already been staged more than 25 times across India, reflecting its wide acceptance and cultural resonance.
Blending Mythology with Contemporary Questions
The narrative begins in a modern context, raising a fundamental question: What value does theatre add to our lives? It then gradually transitions into the mythological story before returning to the present, engaging the audience directly.
The production explores critical themes such as:
The diminishing culture of introspection in modern society
The consequences of unchecked development
The need to reflect on environmental and societal responsibilities
Visual Grandeur and Directional Excellence
Tripathy’s direction stood out through innovative stagecraft, including the use of large-scale digital backdrops that created immersive visual sequences. The stage and music design added dynamism, maintaining high energy throughout the performance and keeping audiences fully engaged.
Mythological Narrative with Social Relevance
The story follows the well-known tale where sage Durvasa curses Indra, leading to the defeat of the gods by King Bali. On the advice of Lord Brahma, the gods seek help from Lord Vishnu, who instructs them to churn the ocean (Samudra Manthan) to restore cosmic balance.
The play draws a powerful parallel between mythology and modern-day challenges. Just as the churning produced both amrit (nectar) and vish (poison), today’s rapid development is generating harmful byproducts such as pollution, plastic waste, and toxic emissions.
