The 16th edition of the well-known theatre festival “Under the Sal Tree 2025” was held on Monday at the Badungduppa Kala Kendra premises in Rampur, Goalpara district.
Organised by the Badungduppa Kala Kendra, founded by late theatre exponent Sukracharya Rabha, the festival is uniquely staged in the open, beneath towering sal trees, offering audiences an immersive and entirely natural theatrical experience.
The festival began at 10 am with the Rabha-language play Ranjumukh. It was followed later in the day by the Assamese production Edin Teo Ahibo and the Hindi play Der Inch Upar. Audience members described the experience as rare and enriching, with one spectator saying she felt fortunate to witness live theatre set amid nature.
Usually spread over three to four days, the festival was limited to a single day this year due to financial constraints. An organising member said limited funding made it difficult to extend the programme, adding that support from both government and non-government sources is essential to sustain and expand the festival in future editions.
For the past 15 years, the Badungduppa Kala Kendra has been hosting the festival in a reserved forest area of Rampur village, transforming a clearing among hundreds of sal trees into a natural stage. Performances are held during daylight, without microphones, electric lighting or sound systems.
Rejecting artificial stage arrangements, modern lighting, sound effects and electronic instruments, the organisers emphasise the use of indigenous props and traditional musical instruments. The festival aims to preserve and promote indigenous folk theatre and cultural traditions through an eco-sensitive and alternative approach.
