Pohela Falgun, heralding the arrival of spring, the king of all seasons, was welcomed by Dhaka residents as well as others in the country with flowers, poems, songs and dances yesterday.
The capital put on a colourful festive look celebrating the first day of Bangla month Falgun with several socio-cultural organisations and educational institutions organising a wide range of programmes marking the day.
Dhaka residents attired in traditional dresses started pouring onto the streets since morning to exchange pleasantries with their near and dear ones.
Every year people of the country celebrate the day to welcome the ‘season of flowers’ symbolising youth, vigour and love.
Jatiya Boshonto Utsav Udjapon Parishad 1417 organised programmes including chorus songs, folk dance, folk music, dance of indigenous people, recitation of poems, drama, and procession in three phases.
The first phase began with Shukla Sarker presenting a classical dance at 7:30am in Bakultala of Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University followed by rendition of chorus and solo songs and poetry recitations. The phase ended around 9:30am with a procession brought out from the institution.
In the second phase, a cultural programme including chorus songs and dance was held around 4:00pm at Bakultala.
The third phase was held around 4:00pm at Rabindra Sarobar in Dhanmondi with similar programmes.
Different television channels broadcast the programmes, sponsored by a mobile phone operating company, live.
Thousands of visitors thronged Dhaka University campus to celebrate the day and enjoy various events. Ekushey Boi Mela also witnessed a huge crowd in the evening yesterday.
Girls in Boshonti (yellow) sharees and adorning floral ornaments and boys in colourful panjabis participated in various events in a jovial mood.
Students of the institute were seen painting motifs on the cheeks and hands of visitors.
Many bands performed concerts at different points of the campus. The crowd of people grew in the evening when the programmes intensified at the institute and TSC premises.
Security at the entrance was beefed up and the huge crowd caused severe traffic congestion in the areas adjacent to the university campus.
Different private universities and colleges also arranged programmes marking the day.
