Nagpur: The Directorate of Cultural Affairs of the State of Maharashtra has decided to postpone the Maharashtra state theater festival without limits behind Covid’s third wave.
The announcement came only three days before the competition began at the Nagpur Center from January 15.
The equipment came out and the first game was held at 2pm at the Scientific Social Hall.
The decision had left most of the 23 amateur groups of participants from Nagpur disappointed.
The theater group has begun training after almost two years.
They were told that competition would be held without an audience.
Therefore, the Prime Time 7 night slot was avoided and 1pm ordered.
The groups have agreed to this restriction because they want to appear on the stage.
Now, they claim psychological and financial losses.
“What happened to the efforts and money we invested,” asked director Salim Sheikh.
“All our team members work tirelessly from more than a month.
We were not consulted even before the decision was taken,” he added.
Virendra Ganvir, who played popularly at the Pioneer of Indian Theater Bhadanta Ashwaghosha will be staged on January 18, saying everyone is disappointed.
“They can announce the decision in December,” he said.
Groups demand the amount of security they returned.
“The amount is not returned to us when we fail to present a game on the date given.
Now, the government itself has failed to do the event,” said a senior artist.