Spring arrives early at Boi Mela
It's that time of the year again, when the first day of spring and the occasion to express one's love coincide with the passion of bookworms, creating a festive atmosphere at Amar Ekushey Boi Mela.
With Pahela Falgun and Valentine's Day being observed across the country today, publishers at the book fair are hoping that the presence of bookworms will light up the fair premises, increasing sales in the process.
However, spring came a day early for many, as the fair took on a festive look yesterday. Hundreds of young girls and boys in colourful, mostly yellow and orange, traditional dresses, thronged the place. Some adorned themselves with floral ornaments.
They came in numbers -- friends, families, siblings and couples -- to check out the books, take photographs and be a part of the celebrations. Many were buying books for their loved ones.
Pahela Falgun had been celebrated on February 13 in Bangladesh until 2020, before the occasion moved to February 14. But for many festival-loving Bengalis, February 13 is still being celebrated as the first day of spring, visitors told this correspondent yesterday.
Spring was also the recurring theme of the day at the book stalls, as those were decorated with colourful balloons, while the sales people were dressed in yellow and orange.
Saleh Ahmed, an official of a private bank, who came to the fair with his wife Mushfiqa Yasmin, said, "I have taken a three-day leave from office to celebrate Pahela Falgun and Valentine's Day with my wife. I'll gift her some of her favourite books."
Tanzin Tanni, who came from Mohammadpur said, "I have already come to the fair to buy books. However, I returned to witness the end of winter and the beginning of spring. I'll buy more books today.".
Sanaul Kabir Chowdhury Kiron, the fair in-charge of Anyaprakash, said, "The book fair is slowly gaining momentum with the arrival of spring. There's a festive atmosphere on the premises."
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen visited the fair yesterday.
"I'm delighted to see so many people in colourful dresses visiting the fair and buying books," he said.
According to Bangla Academy, 105 new books were published at the fair yesterday.
Among them are Mukti Kata Dure by Serajul Islam Choudhury and In the Quest of Bangla Typography by Sabyasachi Hazra (Kathaprokash), Odike Jete Chai by Shaukat Osman and Varot-Pakistan-Bangladesh Kotha by Ahmed Rafique (Somoy Prakashan), Multimedia Journalism by Sabuj Younus (Ittadi Grantho Prokash), and Ghate Ghate Kheyatori 2 and Bidesh Bhromoner Golpa by Manik Chandra Dey (Bivas).
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