The season’s festivity is being celebrated in the busy city through a three day Poush Mela at the Ramna Batamul which began on Friday.
The fair organsied by Poush Mela Udzapan Parisad consists of music, dance, theatre, recitations and delicious pithas sold in makeshift stalls through which the city dwellers enjoyed the festivity brought in by the season.
The first day of the fair attracted numerous Dhaka residents who enjoyed performances by different cultural organisations and solo artistes and tasted different kinds of pithas.
The cultural programme began with a solo recitation of Sukanta Bhattacharya’s Hey Shiter Shurjo recited by Rafiqul Islam in his powerful voice.
The artiste of the cultural organisation, Nibedan, presented Kazi Nazrul Islam’s popular song Poush Elo Poush Elo in chorus presenting the festive mood of month to the listeners. The timeless Tagore song Poush Toder Daak Diyechhe, as well, created a joyous atmosphere within the arena.
However, the spirit of poush can not be perceived without presenting folk songs, so when the artistes of Satyen Sen Shilpi Goshthi presented the song Mora Dhan Katibo Kocha Koch, a beautiful rural ambiance was created at the programme. Udichi Shilpi Gosthi moved the audience with their energetic presentation of a people’s song Naongar Tolo Tolo in the month of victory.
Sanjay Kabiraj received loud applause from the audience for his solo rendition of Manna Dey’s Poush Er Kachhakachhi. Ashraful Islam also entertained the people through performing a folk song Charidike Kanar Haat Bazaar in his stentorian voice.
Dhaka Padatik staged their play Madarika Kheil, written by Masum Aziz and directed by Mijanur Rahman. The play gave a different kind of delight to the audience.
However, the people gathered at the fair also enjoyed the pithas and other products as much as they took pleasure in the performances. The fair featured pithas such as bhapa pitha, chitai pitha, patisapta pitha, atrashi rangorosh, khirkuli, narkel nadu, tiler khaja, sabji piaju and an endless list of pithas.
Apart from the pithas, season’s fresh honey was sold at the stalls as well. There were some stalls where people got their hands painted with henna. The gathering was also interested in buying the handicrafts made from bamboo and cane.
Earlier in the morning, Nasiruddin Yousuff, president of Sammilito Sangskritik Jote, inaugurated the programme as the chief guest in presence of the president of the Parisad Golam Kuddus and the general secretary of the Parisad Biswajit Roy. Besides, cultural personality Jhuna Chowdhury and Hasan Arif spoke at the inauguration programme.
Sunanda Haque, a resident of Dhanmondi, visited the fair early morning. ‘We rarely get the opportunity to enjoy such traditional fiestas. I really enjoyed the performances and specially the pithas,’ Sunanda Haque told New Age.
‘Such programmes remind us about our roots and also give us the essence of the rural life,’ observed Momin Uddin, a government service holder who lives in Arambag.
-With New Age input
