Kathmandu, Oct. 10 -- At Mandala Theatre, smoke slowly fills the stage, revealing a village scene with a herd of goats as Gauri grazes them against a misty blue mountain backdrop.

Set in Nidlaad village, Dadeldhura, 'Shree Bijjo Bhoot' introduces a folkloric world where men and women are viewed through a different lens.

Written by Diwas Nath and directed by Buddhi Tamang and Akash Nepali, the play offers an aesthetic, cinematic portrayal of the local beliefs and cultural traditions of Sudurpaschim.

According to Nepali, "Women's empowerment and their position in the region remain central to the story." Meanwhile, rather than dismissing the belief in 'Bijjo Bhoot' as superstition, writer Nath treats these myths as an essential part of th...