Colours of Culture
Not too many Bangladeshis are acquainted with the Bhutanese folk dance called “Dance of the Drums”. Featuring exquisite attire, props and musical instruments, the item is vastly different from our traditional numbers.
The four day “Symposium on Folkdances in the SAARC Region” held at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy from October22-25 was an opportunity for Bangladeshis to establish a distinct cultural identity. Moreover, it was a privilege to enjoy the vibrant folk dances of other neighbouring nations such as Sri Lanka, Nepal and India.
Striking the right chord, leader of the Bhutanese cultural team Tshering said, “I don't have a clear concept about Bangladeshi dance forms. But from what I saw over the last couple of days, it is totally different from ours.”
Tshering and his seven-member troupe were in Dhaka to take part at the symposium.
Organised jointly by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Peoples Republic of Bangladesh and SAARC Cultural Centre, Sri Lanka, the symposium was a programme to showcase regional cultural diversity. Performers from five nations-- Bangladesh, Indian, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka-- upheld their respective cultural heritage through demonstrations of their exquisite folk dances.
Cultural Minister Abul Kalam Azad inaugurated the festival as chief guest, on the first day (October 22). Four workshops were held at the symposium. Noted Bangladeshi theatre personality and folk researcher Professor Syed Jamil Ahmed presented a keynote paper on the inaugural day.
Like Tshering,visiting Sri Lankan team leader Indika Manthrirathna also expressed his inadequate knowledge of Bangladeshi folk dance forms.
The troupes demonstrated different folk forms. Bangladeshi teams staged several items including Jari, Lathi Khela and Raibeshe as well as dance numbers of the Chakma, Marma and Santal communities. The Bhutanese team demonstrated four traditional dance forms while the Sri Lankan team staged eight forms.
A troupe from Assam in India, staged its popular dance form called “Bihu”. The Nepalese team staged four items.
A certificate giving ceremony was held on the third day (October 24) at the National Theatre Hall of Shilpakala Academy, where noted Bangladeshi personalities including Professor Syed Jamil Ahmed, Professor Shamsuzzaman Khan and Lubna Mariam received certificates in recognition of their works. Delegates from other countries also received certificate from the chief guest Dr. Gowher Rizvi, International Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister.
Among others, advocate Promod Mankin, State Minister for Culture Affairs; and Suraiya Begum, secretary of the Ministry were present on the day.
Apart from, dances and workshops, an exhibition was held in the lobby of the National Theatre Hall. The exhibition featured photographs of traditional dance forms of Bangladesh as well as musical instruments that accompany the dance numbers. The photographs were by folk researcher Saymon Zakaria who said that the images were taken over a period of nearly 20 years. The photos depict over 20 folk dance forms including Royani, Padmar Nachol, Alkab, Behular Nachon, Krishna Lila and Rasha. The exhibition was jointly arranged by Bangladesh National Museum and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
On the fourth and final day of the symposium delegates were taken sight seeing and on river cruises.
The objective of the symposium was to forge stronger ties among SAARC nations through upholding their cultural identity. On the third day, a collage dance [performed by Bangladeshi artistes] titled “Tribute to SAARC” that featured folk items of all the eight SAARC nations upheld the promise of such cultural bonding.
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