Local artistes present a choral rendition (left); Fahim Hossain Chowdhury sings at the programme. Photo: STAR

Sangshkritik Oikko Jote, Pabna organised a two-day festival to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore and the 112th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. The festive event held at Pabna Town Hall premises on Friday and Saturday featured radio and TV artistes as well as artistes from Shantiniketan.
Defying the rain, the audience attended the festival by the hundreds. Noted artistes Fahim Hossain Chowdhury, Aynun Nahar China, Koshtury Bishwas, Shahriar Piew, Bashari Dutta, Sumaiya Khanam, Chhaya Roy, Mita Pal, Kohinur Bishwas performed Tagore songs on the opening day. Noted dancers Rumi, Upoma also performed.
On the concluding day, noted artiste Yasmin Mustari performed Nazrul songs. Among others, Alok Shen, Shafique Uddin, Bonkesh Sarkar and Sanjit Kumar Das performed. The artistes also discussed the lyrical aspects of the songs.
A discussion focusing on the literary works of Tagore and Nazrul was also held. President of Sangshkritik Oikko Jote, Pabna, Gonesh Das chaired the discussion.
Among the speakers, noted cultural organizer and convener of Suchitra Sen Smrity Shangrakhhan Parishad Md. Saidul Haque Chunnu; president of Ekushey Book Fair Celebration Committee Zafar Sadek; secretary, Jakir Hossain and the general manager of Universal Group, Achinta Kumar spoke on the occasion.
The speakers highlighted the contribution of Tagore and Nazrul to Bangla literature and language. The speakers opined that Tagore's works nurtures humanity while Nazrul's literature is a source of inspiration for struggle against oppression.
The speakers went on to assert that both Tagore and Nazrul are the pride of Bengal. Both the great personalities brought Bangla literature to the attention of the world. Bangla literature got an impetus through the award of the Nobel Prize to Tagore while Nazrul is known as a rebel poet around the world.