Art and cultural fest in Dinajpur

A weeklong festival on Bengali art and culture kicked off in Dinajpur amid much festivity on Monday afternoon. The aim was to strengthen the rural cultural sector.
Md. Jashim Uddin Ahmed, Divisional Commissioner of Rangpur, as chief guest inaugurated the festival organised at Dinajpur Shilpakala Academy complex.
Dinajpur Shilpakala Academy organised the festival in association with the Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner's office.
The discussion of the inaugural session was chaired by the Deputy Commissioner of Dinajpur.
Shajahan Shah, a cultural personality of Dinajpur, was present as key speaker at the discussion. Md. Abdul Maleque, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and Development), and Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Additional Superintendent of Dinajpur Police, spoke as special guests.
Citing the times of Rabindranath Tagore, Lalon, Kazi Nazrul Islam, DL Roy, Mukanda Das and Abbas Uddin, the speakers said that the practice of Bangladeshi art and culture had been strong then, but over the last few decades people had deviated from their own culture in favour of western art and culture.
The speakers urged that audience to follow their own art and culture.
They also urged the parents to engage their children in Bengali art and culture.
Thirty-six cultural organisations from 13 upazilas of Dinajpur are taking part in the festival. These organisations will perform plays and other acts upholding their local traditions.
Nine of the 36 participating teams will be awarded for best performance.
Naborupi, Suihari Sangeet Niketan, Betal Shilpi Sangtha of Dinajpur and Abriti Kanan of Biral upazila of Dinajpur performed on the inaugural day at the Rabindra Auditorium of Dinajpur Shilpakala Academy.
Earlier, 10,000 artistes and craftsmen from every nook and corner of the 13 upazilas of Dinajpur including snake charmers, dhak players, craftsmen, silk workers, fishermen, farmers, writers and monks brought out a festival procession here in Dinajpur which paraded different streets of district town.
The procession began from the Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner's office and ended at Dinajpur Shilpakala Academy.
A mela (fair) with 10 stalls was also organised at the complex.