Poush Mela held at Ramna

With the theme “Shantir Payera Uruk Poush-er Akashey”, Poush Mela Udjapon Parishad (PMUP) held a three-day (January 2-4) Poush Mela 1421, at Ramna Botumul in the capital. This is the 15th such fair by PMUP. The organisation has been holding the mela since 1999.

Fairs are integral parts of rural Bengal. Due to rapid urbanization, people in the city are forgetting their roots; the fair aims at reminding people of their culture as well as introducing the mela to the new generation. The fair displayed various pitha (traditional cakes) and cultural programmes everyday.

Vice Chancellor of University of Dhaka AAMS Arefin Siddique inaugurated the fair on January 2. Theatre personality Jhuna Chowdhury and elocutionist Hasan Arif took part in a discussion while GS of PMUP, Bishwajit Roy read out declaration for the year. President of PMUP Golam Kuddus presided over the event.

The three day fair included vibrant cultural programmes featuring panchokobir gaan,bhawaiya, bhatiali and folk songs composed by Lalon Fakir, Hason Raja, Radharamon Dutta, Shah Abdul Karim, Bijoy Sarkar and Jalaluddin.

Iffat Ara Nargis, Khairul Anam Shakil, Sujit Mustafa, Lily Islam, Chandana Majumdar, Akramul Islam and others rendered solo songs while Satyen Sen Shilpigoshthi, Kranti Shilpigoshthi, Ustad Momtaz Ali Khan Sangeet Academy, Boinhishikha, Udichi Shilpigoshthi, Wrishij Shilpigoshthi and other troupes performed choral songs.

Several troupes Nrityalok, Nabochetona, Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts, Dibya, Nrityam, Nrityashree, Dhritee Nartanalay and Spondon presented group dances while several recitation troupes – Prokash, Katha Abritti Chorcha Kendra, Dhaka Swarkalpan, Srot and Swarobyanjon recited poems at the fair.

The special cultural attractions for the year were the staging of Mahuar Pala (Manikganj); Songjatra (Tangail) and baul gaan performances.