Of the several traditional theatrical arts of Bangladesh, jatra is perhaps the most exciting, colourful and durable. Some experts hold that some forms of dance, drama and music which could be termed as a precursor of jatra can be seen in the Dravidian culture of the sub-continent 3,000 years before Christ. Later with the arrival of the Aryans the two cultures helped shape jatra's spiritual qualities on the one hand and entertainment value on the other.
