Celebrating the bounties of early winter

Clockwise (from top): Artistes perform a chorus, dancers of Bhabna present a folk themed piece and chief guest Faiz Ahmed gives away muri, murki and khoi to children. Photo: Golam Mahbub

With the theme “Esho Mili Shob-e Nabanner Utshab-e”, Nabanna Utshab-1418 (late autumn festival) was held yesterday at Bakultala, Faculty of Fine Arts on Dhaka University campus. Nabanna or 'the festival of new harvest' is celebrated by the rural people across the country during the Bangla month of Agrahayan (Nov-Dec). Jatiyo Nabanna Utshab Udjapan Parshad has been holding the festival in Dhaka since 1999.
Traditionally poets, painters, musicians, bauls and people from all walks of life come together at this festival. A big attraction of the celebration is food. Nabanna Mela (fair) is generally held in the countryside. The festival, non-communal in nature, brings smile on the faces of overworked farmers of Bangladesh.
The celebration of Nabanna Utshab in Dhaka has already created much enthusiasm among people of all classes. Veteran journalist and cultural personality Faiz Ahmed inaugurated the festival. Convenor of the festival, Shahriar Salam; Dean of Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University, Matlub Ali and many others attended and spoke at the programme. The organisers observed a one-minute silence in memory of recently deceased Language Movement veteran and artist Imdad Hossain.
The celebration of Nabanna begins soon after harvest. Farmers return home with loads of golden paddy. This is a joyous time in the villages.
The daylong programme featured solo and group renditions of folk songs, songs of Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam, group dance performances, recitation, and a procession that circled Teachers' and students' Centre (TSC).
In the morning, traditional dhol accompanied banshi and dotara to usher in Nabanna in the city. Noted Nazrul Sangeet artiste Khairul Anam Shakil, Tagore singer Azizur Rahman Tuhin and Bhawaiya singer Shafiul Alam Raza sang “Shyamla Boron Bangla Ma-er Roop Dekhey Ja”, “Aaji Nuton O Raton-e Bhuban O Jaton-e” and “Montaye More Pitha Khabar Chaye” respectively at the event.
Folk singer Abu Bokor Siddique, Sandipan and Rupu Khan performed solo, while artistes of Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parisad, Ustad Momtaz Ali Sangeet Academy, Udichi performed choruses on the occasion. Bhashwar Bandyopadhyay and Laila Afroz recited at the event. Artistes of Nrityam, Spondon, Nrityanandan, Nrityabhumi and Bhabna danced to folk songs. Tamanna Rahman, Anik Basu, Sharmila Bandyopadhyay, Evan Shahriar and Samina Hossein Prema choreographed the pieces.
Many came with their families to introduce the youngsters to their cultural roots. In the evening the audience enjoyed Baul songs, poetry recitation and dances.