LAHORE: Ajoka Theatre`s four-day spring festival titled `Aaj Rang Hai` began at Alhamra Art Centre on Tuesday.

The festival is being organised by the Lahore Arts Council in collaboration with Ajoka Theatre. A large audience, most of them the loyal audience of Ajoka, came to see the inaugural performance of the festival, Bullah.

The Hall 2 of Alhamra with 400 seats was packed to its capacity. The chief guest was retired Captain Atta Muhammad Khan, the executive director of the Lahore Arts Council.

Ajoka director Madeeha Gauhar in her welcome address held the Lahore Arts Council in high esteem for positive changes being made in the council for the promotion of art and culture. `Arts councils should do more to promote theatre, dance, film and musicso that the purpose for which these arts council are made can be fulfilled,` she said.

She said she hoped the council would take measures to replace commercial theatre with meaningful, objective and message-oriented theatrical activities.

The set was realistic and the light was captivating.

The play `Bullah`, written by Shahid Mehmood Nadeem, is based on the life of Bulleh Shah (1680-1758).

The play is a tribute to the great mystic, broadly based on the events of his life, as communicated through his poetry, historical records and popular myths.

The other three plays to be featured are: `Lo Phir Basant Ayee` (today), `Kaun Hai Ye Gustakh` (April 9), and `Dara` (April 10).

It`s a non ticketed event starting every evening from 7:30 onwards, passes of the festival can be obtained from Lahore Arts Council and Ajoka Theatre.