Dhakabashi, a socio-cultural organisation of the Old Town of Dhaka, and the Bangladesh Kite Federation on Friday organised a festival marking the end of the Bangla month of Poush, aiming at popularising seasonal festivals throughout the country.
The festival began with cake feast and distributing warm clothes among the poor people at the office of the organisation at Hazaribag.
A rally of the Dhakaites was held on the Bangladesh Sishu Academy premises at Ramna and then the participants brought out a colourful procession in the academy compound.
‘We want to spread the seasonal festival across the country through our efforts and we have been observing the festival for the last three decades,’ Inam Ahmed Chowdhury, chief adviser of Dhakabashi, said at the rally.
The government should take effective measures to preserve the country’s heritage and the organisation tried to send that message to the government through such programme, he added.
A kite flying programme was also held marking the festival on the playground of Bangladesh College of Leather Technology. People of different ages participated in the ceremony.
A total of 8 groups participated in a kite flying competition and Alam’s group from Hazaribag won the first prize.
Local lawmaker Fazle Nur Tapas, as chief guest of the prize giving ceremony, said the people of the Old Town were very much fond of amusement. Later he handed over prizes to the winners.
‘We have been arranging the kite flying competition since 1990’ said Dhakabashi president Shukur Salek, who is also the president of Bangladesh Kite Federation.
Salek said, ‘Our organisation demand relocation of the chemical warehouses from the residential area of the Old Town.’
He demanded reopening of the circular water route from the Sadarghat to Ashulia.
He urged the government to make more city parks in the city.
Some amusement programmes were also arranged, including bugle playing by Abdul Kader and riding on horse-driven carriages.
