Celebrities in celebration of New Year...

Professionals turned out in large numbers for the get-together. Photo: Neloy Hossain

‘Praner Mela', hosted by beautician Kaniz Almas Khan and singer Fahmida Nabi, was what the name suggested. Many had come together to welcome the new year with a new spirit and a new enthusiasm. It was held on the dusk of 1 January at the Bengal Gallery in Dhanmondi. The guests started flooding in from after 7 pm. The programme continued all the way till midnight.
On the first day of the New Year, what can be better than meeting old friends and just chilling out? That's why the event was arranged.
“This is the second time Persona is doing that,” said Nurul Afsar Raj, Canvas. “It was a pretty big hit last year, so we planned it once again,” said Sadique, an organiser.
In the party cum adda, there were celebrities from every branches- from singers Dinat Jahan Munni, Samina Chowdhury, Elita, fashion designers Shahruk Shahid, Emdad, film maker Mostafa Sarwar Farooki, actor Afzal Hossain, photographers Chanchal Mahmood, dramatist Kona Reza, models Alif, Raja, Kabir Bukul, Rafi Hassan and more.
Stars of Close-up One, Channel- i Shera Kontho, et al started the programme with some mixed genre performances that had a bit of soft rock but mainly folk. The whole presentation and environment had a friendly ambience with the neon lights lit up on trees and the seating arrangements made both inside and out on the garden. There was a huge pot wrapped in silver paper that had an assortment of the Bangladeshi sweets.
Dramatist Sacchu anchored the programme. Imdadul Haq Milon gave the opening speech. The guests had a lot of fun with themselves. At one corner a group of models around the age group of 20-25 had circled to have a vibrant gossip. At another, curious boys and girls approached Shifat, palmist and Latin dancer (Cuban) to know what their fate's unlocked. Some senior journalists and economists converse about the recent global issue. Some models and singers-girls only- posed for a photoshoot. The best part about the get-together was the collection of such diverse aged, profession's people on the same spot.
“It's nice to see so many smiling faces together, that's what the whole arrangement is for,” said Barky Xihad, an organiser.
In the function, the issue of the fashion magazine Canvas, a sister concern of Persona, was given out.