The age-old festivity of pitha making is common during the winter in the country. Such festivities frequent in the rural areas are gradually disappearing from the urban areas. For those who miss the tradition in the urban life, can enjoy delicious pithas at the Jatio Pitha Utsab on Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy premises. Apart from the grandeur and colour of the pithas the visitors are being entertained with traditional songs presented by singers from across the country. The combination of traditional songs and pithas at the venue creates a pleasing ambiance of festivity.
The seventh edition of the national pitha festival in the open space of the academy organised by Jatio Pitha Utsab Utjapan Parishad has presented the urban dwellers a taste of traditional winter in the centre of the city.
Around 30 stalls with more than 150 varieties of traditional pithas have been soothing the need to visit the villages for pithas. Malpoya, Malai, Pata, Rosh Phul, Khejur Kinni, Bhajapuri, Bou Pitha, Kola Pitha, Pati Sapta, Rosh Golap, Nakshi Pitha, Pantua, Ilish Pitha, Jhinuk Pitha, Puli Pitha, Dudh Chitai, Hriday Haran are just some of the names of various pithas being sold at the festival.
For the urban people, the festival is a good opportunity to taste and devour different pithas that they like. People of all age groups are crowding the festival, where, besides tasting pithas, they are learning the ways of preparing those pithas at home.
The stall-owners also expressed their satisfaction on having so many visitors and buyers. Most of the stall-owners are from different parts of the country. One of them is Chaina Rani from Madaripur who said, ‘I make pithas out of passion, not profession. It is big pitha festival. I am happy to be a part of it.’
The festival was inaugurated on Friday by Hasnul Haque Inu, information minister, who was present as the chief guest.
‘Pitha has been a part of our culture since ancient time, I think. In the cities pitha festivities are a sort of disappearing. This national festival, I hope, will remind us of our culture,’ said M Hamid, president of Jatio Pitha Utsab Utjapan
Festival.
-With New Age input
