Marking the 90th birth anniversary of illustrious artist SM Sultan, a four-day Sultan Utsab-2013 began yesterday at Sultan Mancha in Narail municipality area of the district.
Jointly organised by SM Sultan Shishu Charu-O-Karukola Foundation, Bengal Foundation and Sultan Foundation and sponsored by Banglalink, the celebration runs from August 29 to September 1.
A traditional boat race at Chitra River with the participation of about 50 boats from different districts was held yesterday.
The schedule of the festival includes an art competition, children's art camp, Indo-Bangla Art Camp, discussions on Sultan's life, cultural shows and art gallery exhibition. Cultural shows are being organised by local and well-known artistes from Dhaka every evening.
Marking the event, the Sultan Mancha premises and Shishu Shargo of Masimdia village wore a festive look. Bimanesh Chandro Biswas, member secretary of SM Sultan Shishu Charu-O-Karukola Foundation estimates a footfall of thousands of people from different areas of the district and country and even neighbouring countries. He adds that a team of six artists -- four from India and two from Nepal – have arrived to join the programme.
Today's festivities will be inaugurated by chief guest Hawlader Mohammad Rokibul Bari, Deputy Commissioner-in-charge, Narail, also President of Sultan Foundation.
The festival is a fitting tribute to legendary artist SM Sultan. Sultan's paintings have been exhibited alongside masters such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, George Braque, Paul Klee and others. He was awarded the Ekushey Padak (1982) for his outstanding contribution to the cultural movement and Independence Award (1993) by the Bangladesh Government. According to art critics, Sultan was perhaps the most enigmatic painter of Bangladesh in contemporary times.